Gatsby Moral Corruption

732 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social class theory in the great gatsby

Our world is constantly evolving. Society consists of values and morals that people follow and prosper beneath. In the 1920s, there was a breakthrough. American citizens adopted a new perspective on society and the American Dream rooted in materialism, consumerism and sensationalism. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald sheds light on this new America. Although in a drunken perspective- distorted reality being an overlying theme- his narrator Nick construes a clear depiction of America’s new system of values within two opposite party scenes. Jay Gatsby’s parties are almost ineffable. Flashy and extravagant, everyone who is anyone longs to be included in these highlighted affairs. On the other hand, Tom Buchanan’s gathering is more somber, consisting …show more content…

Embodied through this societal feature are unflattering aspects such as nihilism, infidelity, judgement, domestic abuse and even homicide. In The Great Gatsby, Tom is having a love affair with Myrtle, a woman of lower stratum. Although aware, his wife Daisy looks the other way as she is not decisive or self-sufficient. At Tom and Myrtle’s party, Catherine, a guest, was spreading gossip about their infidelity. “It’s really his wife keeping them apart. She’s a Catholic and they don’t believe in divorce” (Fitzgerald 35). Catherine heard this lie from Tom. Deceit among people was common and drama was prevalent. Tom had been lying to Daisy about cheating on her with Myrtle, conversely telling Myrtle his wife’s Catholicism prevented a mutual desire for divorce. Nevertheless, Tom’s bad morality due to its norm in society caused him to think nothing of the lie, as he was trying to court a woman. Repeatedly Myrtle mentioned Daisy’s name, disobeying Tom’s wishes. Tom’s truculent nature resulted in him lashing out, as he “...broke her nose with his open hand” (39). Blood splat everywhere. Nick witnessed the scenario unfold yet kept silent. This abusive nature demonstrates the deteriorating respect for women in a domestic environment, and lack of conduct as gentlemen. It also paints the sexist picture that women inflict pain verbally, and men physically. On the other hand, Gatsby’s party

Show More
Related

  • Dishonesty In The Great Gatsby

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    Being a good friend sometimes means overlooking the obvious. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel set in the 1920s. It details the story of the narrator, Nick Carraway, an aspiring bondsman who has moved to the West Egg section of Long Island from Minnesota in search of business. Nick is considered a man of "new money." He has established and now manages his own riches. He meets a particularly mysterious man, his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Through Gatsby, he meets people from the East Egg of Long Island, who are considered to be of "old money," wealth or business that has been inherited through generations. Over time, Nick and Jay become great friends. Nick helps Gatsby learn about himself and his aspirations in life, and vice versa.

    Read More

  • Hollow Society In The Great Gatsby

    1843 Words  | 4 Pages

    Carraway describes the atmosphere as “spilled with prodigality” (Fitzgerald 44). Gatsby’s fills his parties with wasteful extravagances like alcohol, and his efforts toward love end up as futile. The people, instead of appreciating Gatsby, backhandedly gossip about his past as a German spy, and simply partake in the alcohol being served (Fitzgerald 48). Instead of representing the upper echelon’s of 1920s’ society, in contrast to the poor, the party-goers appear weak, superficial, and unworthy of such acclaim, especially when given their tendency to gossip. With this depiction of the partiers, Fitzgerald showcases the hollow nature of 1920s society, lacking in morality and

    Read More

  • Dishonesty In The Great Gatsby

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nick Caraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, grew as a person throughout the book. In his earlier years Nick went to Yale to study literature, he also fought in World War 1. When Nick was younger he lived in Minnesota then he moved to New York to learn the business bond. He lives in the West Egg which is a part of Staten Island which is home to the newly rich. In the East Egg live the wealthy, who have had money through generations.

    Read More

  • Moral Destruction In The Great Gatsby

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Great Gatsby: The Destruction of Morals. In The Great Gatsby, the author F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the destruction of morals in society. The characters in this novel, all lose their morals in an attempt to find their desired place in the social world. They trade their beliefs for the hope of acceptance.

    Read More

  • Tracing Morality in The Great Gatsby

    674 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is a book of lying, cheating, scamming, and corruption for the betterment of oneself. Though some have redeeming qualities, it is apparent that the characters in The Great Gatsby are all “morally blind” (Parkinson 94) in one way or another, knowingly or unknowingly. In the majority of cases these moral imperfections are not nearly as horrid as the label makes them seem. These actions are things that may not appear as something bad to the character or reader, but they are technically classified as morally corrupt.

    Read More

  • The Rich and The Poor in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Great Gatsby”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the vast social difference between the old aristocrats, the new self-made rich and the poor. He vividly interprets the social stratification during the roaring twenties as each group has their own problems to deal with. Old Money, who have fortunes dating from the 19th century, have built up powerful and influential social connections, and tend to hide their wealth and superiority behind a veneer of civility. The New Money made their fortunes in the 1920s boom and therefore have no social connections and tend to overcompensate for this lack with lavish displays of wealth. As usual, the No Money gets overlooked by the struggle at the top, leaving them forgotten or ignored. Such is exemplified by Jay Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson and Tom Buchanan. Their ambitions distinctly represent their class in which Fitzgerald implies strongly about.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Ethical Analysis

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Like God observing the world, we are the observers of The Great Gatsby. According to German philosopher Immanuel Kant’s two categorical imperatives, Daisy and Jay were unethical. Kant’s categorical imperatives state; ‘Act as if your action could be elevated into universal law’ and. Based on the principles of Kant, Daisy and Jay were unethical in several ways, according to Kant’s two categorical imperatives. Daisy used people emotionally and lacked responsibility, and Jay was manipulative towards the people around him. The Great Gatsby is a great example of a society that does not abide by Kantian principles.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Immorality and Corruption in the Great Gatsby

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald many of the characters could not be classified as a truly moral, a person who exhibits goodness or correctness in their character and behavior. Nick Carraway is not moral by any means; he is responsible for an affair between two major characters, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. Jay Gatsby does show some moral qualities when he attempts to go back and rescue Myrtle after she had been hit by Daisy. Overall Gatsby is unquestionably an immoral person. Nick Carraway and Gatsby share many immoral characteristics, but a big choice separates the two. Daisy Buchanan is an extremely immoral person; she even went to the lengths of taking someone's life. Jay and Daisy are similar but Daisy is borderline corrupt. The entire story is told through Nick Carraway's point of view and by his carelessness it is obvious the narrator possesses poor values.

    Read More

  • Dishonesty in The Great Gatsby

    1501 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lies are a treacherous thing, yet everyone tells a few lies during their lifetime. Deceit surrounds us all the time; even when one reads classic literature. For example, F. Scott Fitzgerald makes dishonesty a major theme in his novel The Great Gatsby. The falsehoods told by the characters in this novel leads to inevitable tragedy when the truth is revealed.

    Read More

  • Corruption In The Great Gatsby

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    Caleb Pavelka Hour five The Great Gatsby (Moral Corruption) The Great Gatsby is known for its unmistakable tragedy and love story. Such situations cause these major plot twists and turns in the story are determined by characters’ responses to situations. Their motives for their actions are determined by their financial background.

    Read More

  • Decaying Morals in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1920’s were a time of social and technological change. After World War II, the Victorian values were disregarded, there was an increase in alcohol consumption, and the Modernist Era was brought about. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a perfect presentation of the decaying morals of the Roaring Twenties. Fitzgerald uses the characters in the novel--specifically the Buchanans, Jordan Baker, and Gatsby’s partygoers--to represent the theme of the moral decay of society.

    Read More

  • Morals and Ethics in The Great Gatsby

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most self respecting people have ethics and morals they try to abide by. They create standards that they live life by and construct their own philosophy with. In the novel The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, morals and ethics are a scarce practice. Jay Gatsby lives his life by the over bearing morals and values of devotion, corruption, and his will to control.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby: American Dream or American Nightmare?

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Moral Corruption In The Great Gatsby

    1165 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald explores the idea of the American Dream as well as the portrayal of social classes. Fitzgerald carefully sets up his novel into distinct social groups but, in the end, each group has its own problems to contend with, leaving a powerful reminder of what a precarious place the world really is. By creating two distinct social classes ‘old money’ and ‘new money’, Fitzgerald sends strong messages about the elitism underlying and moral corruption society. The idea of the American dream is the ideal that opportunity is available to any American, allowing their highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. In the case of The Great Gatsby it centres on the attainment of wealth and status to reach certain positions in life,

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby A Criticism Of The Twenties (grade 11 Essay)

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Roaring Twenties is considered a time of mass corruption and excessive absurdity. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses his novel, The Great Gatsby, to criticize the American society and its values in this era. This criticism is best shown in the behaviour of the people who go to Gatsby's parties; they are careless, rude and only looking out for themselves. It is also shown in the corruption of the police, who are easily paid to look the other way. It is finally apparent in the corruption of friendship and love, the truth being that there is none. This society and its values are self-centered and materialistic, caring very little for consequences and others. Fitzgerald's message is delivered magnificently and causes one to be appalled by the behaviour of the people during this time in history.

    Read More

More about Gatsby Moral Corruption

Open Document