Literary Criticism Of The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald once said, “you don 't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say” (“F. Scott Fitzgerald”). His novel, The Great Gatsby, demonstrates just that. Fitzgerald has a unique process about his writing. This allows him to impose the strong impression of the true status of social class in capitalist society that is present in The Great Gatsby. As Kenneth Eble states in his criticism of the work, Fitzgerald’s first edition seldom tied chapters and sections together; the novel was written, but not in a particular order (Eble par. 2). It is clear that Fitzgerald then organized his work and strategically placed events to convey what he had to say. It is glaringly obvious that Fitzgerald had a strong
In a literary criticism by Barbra Will, she states that Gatsby came face to face with the object of his desire, Daisy (Will par. 25). To bolster this point, Fitzgerald emphasizes his portrayal of Daisy by adding, “He hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes” (Fitzgerald 91). Gatsby is vastly intoxicated by her way of life in the novel. He would do anything to please her, and intends to banish what fails to impress. Gatsby’s whole world was centered around this ideal figure of a woman that Daisy is. She is the object of every man’s desire. She has the perfect lifestyle, appearance, and wealth that was attractive to both men, and everyone in search of the American
Daisy is working towards her own happiness in the novel, and cares not for anyone else. This can be seen in numerous situations, including the death of Myrtle, who was simply in her way, and Gatsby, who served solely as her play toy. He meant nothing to her. That is why, on the morning that Daisy was to be informed of her lover’s death, Fitzgerald writes, “But she [Daisy] and Tom had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them” (Fitzgerald 164). Daisy could have easily manipulated her husband’s mind into staying for the funeral. It is due to her selfish, high society ways, that she and Tom were able to just pick up and leave after