Societal Pressures: The Cause of Heartlessness

652 Words2 Pages

Societal Pressures: The Cause of Heartlessness Societal influence can cause people to act in ways they would if their actions were based solely on their own accord. If someone is told the type of lifestyle they should lead repeatedly, that is how they begin to live their lives. This manifestly applies to Daisy in The Great Gatsby, a self-serving woman, a product of the self-serving 1920s, whose desires are greatly influenced by the standards of her society, ultimately causing her to become a callous and unfeeling individual. Daisy’s society places her under strict social regulations based on wealth, which ultimately decide many aspects of her life. The 1920s society that is the setting for The Great Gatsby seems to consist of three social classes: the wealthy, socially connected, and old fashioned in East Egg; the newly rich and flamboyant lacking social connections in West Egg; and the poor living in the “Valley of Ashes.” Daisy Buchannan belongs to the upper East Egg class. Those who are part of this class are held to high social standards. Coming from a wealthy family, Da...

Open Document