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Why is The Great Gatsby is a book about hope. The most striking element in Fitzgerald's demystification of the prohibition era, is not the human insecurity and moral ugliness bred by the constant glamour but the absolute failure of the American dream. Fitzgerald's novel, “The Great Gatsby”, exposes the American Constitution as a myth, exhibiting the reality of the situation with the entrenched class differences of the time period. Fitzgerald provides insight into the life of the high class during the roaring twenties, through the eyes of a man named Nick Caraway. It is through the narrator's dealings with high society that readers are exposed to how modern values have transformed the American Dream's pure ideals into a scheme for materialistic …show more content…
In the novel, West Egg represents the newly rich, while east Egg, especially Daisy and Tom, represent the old aristocracy. The newly rich are portrayed as being vulgar, showy and lacking in social graces and taste. However, what the old aristocracy possesses in taste, however, it seems to lack in heart, as the East Eggers prove themselves careless and inconsiderate of others. Nevertheless, “Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book”, is an illustration of what dedication and an “extraordinary gift for hope” can erect. Although, his money is made from criminal means, he is shown to be a vibrant character who is sincere, loyal, and has genuine love for Daisy. Everything he has done in life has been done to fulfil his dream, to prove to Daisy that he is worthy of her. And even when his dream is collapsing, and all chances of recovering his past love is gone, Gatsby’s incorruptible dream drives him on. Ironically, then, it is not Gatsby’s bad qualities that lead him to his death, but rather his good qualities of loyalty and determination that lead to his demise, as he takes the blame for killing Myrtle rather than letting Daisy be punished. It is at this point in the novel that Nick, the narrator, realizes that his neighbour was “worth the whole damn bunch put together”. Nick, who is supposedly “inclined to reserve all judgments,” finally makes a conclusive judgment here, calling Daisy, Tom, Jordan, and all the upper class morally rotten. And although Gatsby’s real history, however tainted by criminal enterprise, in facts makes him more admirable by moral standards than the initial impression he gives Nick. During a time that was so entrenched with corruption and restlessness, Gatsby still manages to maintain faith in the virtues of
Andrew T. Crosland, an expert on the Jazz Age writings of author F.Scott Fitzgerald, wrote that Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby included over 200 references to cars (Crosland). This is not surprising as the automobile, like the flapper were enticing novelties at the time this book was written. The main characters in The Great Gatsby who, by the way, all drive cars are Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Myrtle and George Wilson. Attractive, yet enigmatic, Gatsby tries to win the love of an aristocratic woman, who rebuffs Gatsby for her upper class husband. This leads to Gatsby’s tragic murder after he is falsely accused of killing Myrtle with his Rolls Royce. The automobile, as
Our story, The Great Gatsby, starts out when Nick, a stock trader, moves to West Egg. West Egg is a part of Long Island where the "new" rich people live. "New" rich is a term used to describe people who have recently acquired their wealth, and have no connections in East Egg, where the people who have established their wealth live. Gatsby befriends Nick for a good reason, to meet his long lost love, Daisy, Nick’s cousin and resident of East Egg. Unfortunately for Gatsby, Daisy is married to Tom, a boisterous man who has taken in a mistress and everyone in the novel knows about it.
The dawn of the 20th century was met with an unprecedented catastrophe: an international technological war. Such a horrible conflict perhaps threatened the roots of the American Dream! Yet, most do not realize how pivotal the following years were. Post war prosperity caused a fabulous age for America: the “roaring twenties”. But it also was an era where materialism took the nation by storm, rooting itself into daily life. Wealth became a measure of success and a facade for social status. This “Marxist materialism” threatened the traditional American Dream of self-reliance and individuality far even more than the war a decade before. As it morphed into materialistic visions (owning a beautiful house and car), victims of the change blindly chased the new aspiration; one such victim was Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby. As his self-earned luxury and riches clashed with love, crippling consequences and disasters occur. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby delves into an era of materialism, exploring how capitalism can become the face of social life and ultimately cloud the American Dream.
Nick’s naïveté and innocence leads to continual judgement of the deceiving upper class community he surrounds himself with; however, he realises Gatsby is the most genuine and optimistic man he has ever met. Gatsby’s never ending confidence in his dream of a future with Daisy represents blind faith of an unattainable dream, yet Gatsby never ceases to reach for his goals. Gatsby even believes that he can fix every mistake he has made in the past (Fitzgerald 128). His naive and ignorant outlook on his future influences many vindictive decisions he has made in his past. Nick’s admiration of Gatsby’s ambitions compels him to recognize Gatsby’s efforts. Nick exclaims that Gatsby is “worth the whole damn bunch put together” (Fitzgerald 126). Nick idolizes Gatsby because his questionable actions were driven by his immense passion for Daisy. Believing that the elite, upper class society is corrupt, Nick found that Gatsby was the only wealthy individual he had met who is pure of
How does reading a story benefits an individual and improve his or her daily life? Extensive reading does not only serve as an entertainment purpose, but it is also beneficial to many readers because reading fiction can help enhance a person’s understanding of the type of society the reader lives in. For example, the famous novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is regarded as a brilliant work of literature, for it offers a detailed glimpse of the American life in the 1920s and comments on various social problems during that time period. The novel tells the story of a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby who lives in the fictional town of West Egg, located on Long Island, during the summer of 1922. Gatsby wants to pursue his first
Nick writes about the things that only he observes and sees. His judgement in the story is the truth about the people he meets. He uses what he se.es and hears to judge the characters in the story. Nick thinks highly of Gatsby, but at times questions him. He sees Gatsby as a good man who is only chasing his dream of being with Daisy. Nick thinks that the people of East Egg are very snobbish because of the fact that they have had money their entire life. When Nick goes to visit Daisy, who is also is cousin; she says that he looks like a rose. Nick knew that he was being judged and did not seem to fit in over in East Egg and that they were just trying to make him feel welcomed. Nicks tone of the story is that everything is lavished and extremely luxurious because of the wealth that surrounds him. Whether it is at one of Gatsby’s extravagant parties or at the Buchanan residence for dinner, he is surrounded by the greed of others to have it all. None of the things that these people have seem to bring them the happiness that they are searching
Materialism has a negative influence on the characters in the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The most terrible thing about materialism even more terrible than its proneness to violence, is its boredom, from which sex, alcohol, drugs, all devices for putting out the accusing light of reason and suppressing the unrealizable aspirations of love, offers a prospect of deliverance.” This quote, stated by Malcolm Muggeridge, says that people get bored with the things that they have when they get new things all of the time. When they get bored with these things, they turn to stuff like sex, alcohol, and drugs. In The Great Gatsby, Myrtle, Daisy, and Gatsby are greatly influenced by money, and material things. The negative influence that materialism has on these characters is shown throughout the entire novel.
Materialism may be defined as attention to or emphasis on material objects, needs or considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual values.
America has been labeled "The land of opportunity," a place where it is possible to accomplish anything and everything. This state of mind is known as "The American Dream." The American Dream provides a sense of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. This dream, however, originates from a desire for spiritual and material improvement. Unfortunately, the acquisition of material has been tied together with happiness in America. Although "The American Dream" can be thought of as a positive motivation, it often causes people to strive for material perfection, rather than a spiritual one. This has been a truth since the beginnings of America, such as the setting of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, which is an example of this set in the 20’s. The characters in this novel are too fixed on material things, losing sight of what is really important.
Gatsby’s dream is corrupted by the opulence surrounding him; therefore, he fallaciously assumes that material wealth is synonymous to happiness and wealth. In response to Gatsby’s demand Nick Carraway states "the modesty of the demand shook [him]. He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths so that he could "come over" some afternoon to a stranger's garden" (83). Gatsby throws lavish parties in hope of attracting Daisy, but Daisy never goes to any of his parties making Gatsby’s attempt seem futile. People in East Egg inherit their money and already have everything they want, they did not work for their money and do not appreciate the same way West Egg does. Daisy already has money meaning there is no reason to be with Gatsby because of money. The parties that Gatsby throws wastes money in an obscene fashion and those parties host shallow attendees only trying to increase their social status. Those parties may appear to East Egg as the vulgarity of nouveau riche, only lowering Gatsby’s social status among those in East Egg. Jordan Baker thinks "[Gatsby] half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night, […] but she never did." (84). Gatsby believes that he can impress Daisy with wealth, but Daisy already has wealth making his parties not impressive. Corrupted by wealth, Gatsby tries too hard to buy his dream and a way into a society that would not fully accept him.
F. Scott Fitzgerald third book, “The Great Gatsby”, stands as the supreme achievement in his career. According to The New York Times, “The Great Gatsby” is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s. In the novel, the author described Daisy Buchanan as childish, materialistic, and charming. These characteristics describing Daisy is also description for the way women were seen during the 1920s.
The world is filled with cheapskates, phonies, and two-faced people. Many use others for their own benefits. In The Great Gatsby, through the motif of superficiality, Fitzgerald critiques the theme that displaying materialism and superficiality can ruin true love and a chance at true love. Objects cannot define a relationship; it should be the feelings developed that defines the relationship of two people. The characteristic of materialism is a barrier for true love between two people. Nick Carraway has just moved to a West Egg, and his mysterious neighbor is Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s long living dream is to rekindle his love and relationship with Daisy Buchanan, who is currently married to Tom Buchanan. He attempts to pursue his relationship with Daisy through his unexplained wealth. However, their love couldn’t be true because of their focus on “things” rather than each other.
Through Fitzgerald’s symbolic description of Gatsby, he explores the extent of the American Dream’s deceptive nature that slowly destroys a person and his/her morals. During the Roaring 20s it was very common for people to project illusions to mask who they truly were; to fit in, it was almost essential to have one to survive in the highly materialistic and deceitful society. Nick is introduced as the objective narrator...
Gatsby is largely a mystery at the story’s beginning, defined by his wealth and influence as well as the rumors that flood the gossip lanes. He resides in West Egg, home of the nouveaux riche, across the sound from East Egg, where the established older money claims home to. He’s largely known for his extravagant parties, open to all corners of society, but he doesn’t participate in none of them. His actions prompt one to guess a reason, which revealed is the sole reason for all of Gatsby’s achievements. When becoming friends with Nick Carraway, he gives him his back story – his family, his travels in Europe, his service in WW1 and his college days in Oxford – all to give him proof that he stems from the same pool of individuals as Nick does. This also unveils Gatsby to be innocent, and honest with most people, traits that come into conflict with his foil the aristocratic bully Tom Buchanan (Daisy’s husband). Even early on, the myth of Jay Gatsby starts to crumble away as its revealed he came to his wealth through criminal endeavors, confirmed by his meeting with Meyer Wolfshiem.
West Egg is used to symbolize those with “new money” and gatsby embodies the values of those living on the brink of high society who are not quite there yet. Despite his wealth, Gatsby can not enter the top class alongside Tom and Daisy and this division remains throughout his life. (Sjostrom, “Location and class” 8). Gatsby is a typical embodiment of those who pretend to correspond to the level of aristocracy held by those across the water in East Egg. This is an important point to emphasize when examining the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. Though Gatsby has money, he is not conditioned socially in the same way as those who were born into it. He gains his wealth in his pursuit of Daisy and never loses his sense of wonder, hope, or compassion while Daisy has already become numb to most if not all of these things.(Jam, “Symbolism in The Great Gatsby.”) Gatsby holds onto a past with Daisy and refuses to accept the reality that they have become different people and that their lives have gone separate directions as is symbolized by their respective locations divided by the valley of