After World War II during the 1950’s, the economy boomed leading to the idealization of a middle-class lifestyle of stability, certainty and wealth. Everyone in the middle class led analogous lifestyles. As disconcerting as this appears, compared to the poverty that Americans went through in the Great Depression, living in the culture of conformity was like child's play. There were nuclear families and parents pushed their kids to become well educated, get married, have a copious number of kids and buy an expensive car. Looking at adolescents, there was the emergence of teen movies, adult apprehension and rock and roll. (Pettengill, 6-24-2014). However, as is to be expected not all kids agreed with the culture of conformity. In J.D. Salinger’s …show more content…
For example, Holden Caulfield explains how he lived in the “Ossenburger Memorial Wing of the new dorms…named after this guy Ossenburger that went to Pencey” who in a football game appeared in a “goddam Cadillac” but still tried to appear relatable by telling corny jokes (Salinger, 20). Holden understands the irony of a man appearing in Cadillac trying to be relatable and sees through the pretense. He is skeptical of this man who followed the well-traveled roads and got a college education. This is why he “dislikes” the Cadillac. He does not really dislike the Cadillac but rather what it stands for –conventionality. This contempt does not just apply to the adults but also the students his age at Ivy League schools. Holden notes at a nightclub that “there was this Joe Yale-looking guy, in a gray flannel suit” and “all of those Ivy League bastards look alike…but I swear, I wouldn’t go to one of those Ivy League colleges if I was dying” (Salinger, 94). Holden does not want to go to an Ivy League school because he is afraid that it might strip him of his individuality which clarifies why teens in general during that period
In today's society , one is either conforming to the social standards or remaing true to ones own beliefs in indivulastic manner. Conformity is the behavior or coordinance with socially accepted convention or standards in society. For example, if a newly made phone was to be sold on the market that attracted a large amount of people or indivuals such as celebrities, more people would go and buy it because it’s more socially acceptable. People are choosing to conform to others standards rather than their own needs and essentials. On the other hand, individualism is the social theory favoring action for individuals over collective or state control.
Throughout The Catcher in the Rye Holden complains that the people around him are all "phony." This view probably stems from the extensive trend of conformity that infected the 1950's. The reader can understand Holden's reason for hating these phonies. Holden describes any person that embraces the popular culture as a "phony" and disdains them for it. This is clear when Holden goes to see "The Lunts" with Sally Hayes and is absolutely disgusted by the people around him. When Holden meets Sally's acquaintance, George, he immediately recognizes him as a phony, 'strictly ivy league. Big deal." (p.127) Holden cannot stand people who do not think for themselves. Although Salinger never states his opinion directly, one can assume by Holden's statements that Salinger was also critical of the 50's theme of conformity, or at least aware of it.
F. Scott Fitzgerald presents many themes in his novel, The Great Gatsby. One of the
In the period of the 1920’s, there was a certain status of wealth that was difficult to achieve. There were two societal classes consisting of those with wealth from prior generations, and those who worked to earn it themselves. Tom, Daisy, and Nick, who represented the old money society did not have to work hard, unlike Gatsby which he represented the new money and they had to work to earn money. People like Gatsby, who gained their wealth on their own often fought for the approval from the upper class who inherited their wealth. Rather than having new money and old money, people who tried achieving the American Dream and ended up in failure usually they end up like George and Myrtle Wilson In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the notion that social norms in the upper class depict the idea that being apart of it was impossible unless they were born in it was expressed through Daisy’s rejection of Gatsby because of the corrupt way in which he gained his wealth, making his American Dream unattainable.
Throughout the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, adolescents were expected to seek extremely particular paths in life, as a great deal of a teenager’s life would have already been outlined by society. Due to these stringent circumstances, many teens would purposely distance themselves from cultural norms, silently and actively rebelling by evading the traditional ways life while concurrently devising their own. In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger utilizes symbolism to characterize Holden as a childish teenager who struggles to grasp the concept of maturity, despite it being a necessity. However, this is quite ironic on several levels. Most notably, he revels in many impure actions during his journey (e.g. drinking and hiring prostitutes),
Gatsby Analytical Essay The author for the successful book known The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald presents many themes in his novel. One of the themes is Society and Class. The theme is developed throughout the book by his use of the motif of Parties, mostly happening over at Gatsby’s house. The motif of parties compares Gatsby parties.
For example, when he talks about his late younger brother, he refers to him as “terrifically intelligent” and “the Nicest”. Furthermore, he states, “His teachers were always writing letters to my mother, telling her what a pleasure it was having a boy like Allie in their class. And they weren't just shooting the crap” (Salinger 43). This opinion about his brother, and children in general, contrasts greatly what what he believes about the adult population.
Society and Class in the Great Gatsby F Scott. Fitzgerald introduces many themes in this novel, The Great Gatsby. Society and Class; being one of the themes throughout the book. Society and Class shows the division of social class you’re positioned in. Fitzgerald wanted to convey in the 1920’s, people “used” one another, and didn’t love the relationship between one another, but only cared what the other person would be able to present rather than he or she actually was.
The 1920s were a period of social and political change. For example, a bigger number of America lived in Urban areas than on farm; therefore, culture have changed in the time. Indeed, many women became more assertive, they tended to talk freely about sex and action that would affect to their reputations. Also, everyone could make a fortune without any concern on their foundation, so behavior of the newly rich was different the old aristocracy in communication, and social morality. Therefore, American aristocracy families was despised the newly rich and businesses or speculators because their fortune was from family inheritance instead of personal accomplishment. In the novel The Great Gatsby, both West Egg and West Egg are places for wealthy
In today’s society, social class plays a large role in who is with who. Celebrity couples and weddings are very commonplace, but the rich and famous rarely marry those who are of the middle, or lower class. If it does happen though, it is usually a rich, older man marrying a young, beautiful woman. This would usually not happen unless the older man was rich, and these relationships do not usually last very long. Along with this, some people in foreign countries still practice the tradition of arranged marriages, which are usually based solely on wealth. As well as romantic relationships, friendships are also affected by social class. It is very unlikely that a rich person like Kim Kardashian would be friends
In the novel the Great Gatsby, Scott F. Fitzgerald created a fake society that showcased all different types of people in society. We have the upper class, middle class and lower class people. In the upper class we have Daisy and Tom Buchanan, for they fall into the social elite and being extremely wealthy. We also have Gatsby, but he is on the lower social standard closer to his next door neighbor Nick. Nick however, is a middle class man with a solid income coming from his finance job. As of course George and Myrtle Wilson are the lower class standing people, who have poor financial stability. In the novel get an inside view on these characters actions. When looking closely at their actions throughout the book, we readers tend to find a couple
When reading a piece of literature it is important to know the setting, particularly the time period that it is set in. Knowing this gives more insight on the culture, including social aspects at that time. The social occasions that stand out the most in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, are the parties that Jay Gatsby throws at his house. These parties not only portray the culture during the 1920’s but also have significance towards the plot.
Society should serve the interest of all people not just those in power. Each individual is more important than society, there is a contract to be uphold by those in power to respect the rights and liberties of every individual while the individual contributes their fair share to society and obeys the laws set out by the state, this contract ensures the balance between order and liberty giving each and every individual the opportunity to succeed. Corruption in society is evident in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald where Fitzgerald views society during the 1920’s as economically and socially corrupt shown through the novel’s setting symbolizing a division among classes and people, set in Long Island, New York the area is divided into
The Great Gatsby, a film released in 1974, based off a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the tragic story of a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby. The movie takes place in America after World War I and allows viewers to observe the social effect of the post-war’s economic growth. In the film, there are several examples of social stratification, symbolic interactionism, labeling theory, gender norms, and the butterfly effect from the characters’ diverse backgrounds and actions.
What makes someone or something great? Greatness is an idea that is hard to achieve, but authors of “great American novels” make it possible through the use of numerous criteria that exemplifies the culture of Americans in a specific period of time. Great American novels echo United States history, discuss obstacles that address a social issue or values of the time period, and are written by American authors. F. Scott Fitzgerald is a well known American novelist who often writes about the Jazz Age or 1920s, and is most famously known for the great American novel, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald suffered a difficult childhood, moving from Minnesota to New York, where he bounced back and forth from Buffalo to Syracuse for his father’s job. Following high school, Fitzgerald decided to stay on the East coast, studying at Princeton University before dropping out and joining the US army. As Fitzgerald's novels began to bring him fame, he made his way to Hollywood, where he embraced his extravagant status. By the 1950s and 1960s, following Fitzgerald’s death, The Great Gatsby became known as one of the greatest novels, definitively portraying the “roaring twenties”. The Great Gatsby is a “great American novel” because it presents a rags to riches story, deals with social class, and displays love of something.