Theme Of Insanity In The Great Gatsby

According to Merriam-Webster, sanity refers to the quality or state of being sane; especially soundness or health of mind. People that make smart decisions and use their common sense are referred to as sane. On the contrary, when people make irrational decisions or decisions that the rest of society do not agree with, they can be viewed as insane. When Bernice arrives to her cousin’s house, she is a confident, popular, teenage girl, that quickly realizes that she is no longer popular in the new town. She struggles to fit in, so she asks Marjorie, her cousin, for some assistance. Marjorie, jealous of Bernice, agrees to help her, but little does Bernice know, Marjorie does not have the best intentions. As Bernice becomes more popular, Marjorie

When Marjorie offers to help Bernice, she is skeptical, but agrees under certain terms. Bernice makes rational decisions when Marjorie asks, “‘Will you do exactly as I say?’” Bernice replies with, “‘If they're sensible things’” (Fitzgerald 33). Though Marjorie wants complete power over Bernice’s decisions, Bernice makes sure that she still has some control. She clarifies and clearly explains that she will only do things that are sensible. This shows that Bernice has a soundness of mind and uses her common sense, because she is not willing to do extraordinary tasks. As Bernice continues to become more popular, she is willing to do things that are not logical. Marjorie tells Bernice that she should bob her hair, so she eventually decides to go to the barber to get it bobbed. To the reader’s understanding, "twenty minutes later the barber swung her round to face the mirror, and she flinched at the full extent of the damage that had been wrought. Her hair was not curly, and now it lay in lank lifeless blocks on both sides of her suddenly pale face. It was ugly as sin--she had known it would be ugly as sin" (44). Even though it