F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby has been viewed as a standout masterpiece of American writing since it was published in the 1920s. The novel has been distinctly consecrated in American culture where it remains applicable and regularly read over ninety years after publication. Why it is still relevant turns out to be clear when reading the novel. Fitzgerald tells a moderately contained and straightforward story by using an elaborate style and concerning different distinctive topics. In addition, it lets plenty of space for alternative views and speculations about some elements of the novel. This essay will focus on a in-depth analysis of Nick Carraway, with the intention of showcasing his character traits, background and relations, and …show more content…
When he talks about her he often uses masculine terms and and at one point of the Novel describes her as a “clean, hard and limited person” (77). Lois Tyson, states the allegation that Nick could be a gay man who is unaware of his own homosexuality (343). In this case the masculine descriptions of Jordan could be a clue for this, he seems to be attracted to women whose physical properties are not traditionally feminine. On the other hand, someone Nick does spend a lot of time describing is the main protagonist Jay Gatsby. The amount of detail and volume of text dedicated to Nick’s description of Gatsby can be attributed to the fact that the book is about Gatsby, not Jordan Baker, but the how is what makes Nick’s possible sexual tendency more obvious. Not only are the descriptions of Gatsby noticeably more deep and detailed, they tend to lean towards the more traditionally feminine and are especially romanticizing and glorifying. Nick calls the way Gatsby's smiles “understandingly” and notes that it is “one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance […] that you may come across four or five times in life” (49). Nick also notes that: “Gatsby's “tanned skin was drawn attractively tight on his face and his short hair looked as though it were trimmed every day” …show more content…
Nick travels to New York from West Egg with Tom Buchanan, stopping on the way to pick up Myrtle, Tom's secret affair. They then head to an apartment where they, together with Myrtles sister and the married couple, the McKees, have a party. Nick comments that at this afternoon it was the second time in his life that he had been drunk and that everything therefore had a “dim, hazy cast over it” (27- 32). At this party Nick meets the photographer Mr. McKee, which is a important scene for characterizing Nick's sexuality. Nick describes McKee as “a pale, feminine man” (32) and it can be assumed that there is some sort of attraction between the two men, because of events that will follow. Nick and McKee end up leaving the party together, something Maggie Gordon Froehlich says “clearly (if subtly) suggests a pickup” (215). The pair drunkenly stumble into the elevator where they start making vague plans about going to lunch (39). At first sight, the confused vagueness could be seen as a representation of their intoxication, but it could also be argued that when looking closely, their talk about their plans to get lunch (when asked where, McKee answers “anywhere” [39]) is subliminal homoerotic intended (because they are not planning lunch at all, but rather planning to “do something” else). Whether or not the offer is salacious, the non specificity is suggestive an leads questions
The 1920s in America, known as the "Roaring Twenties", was a time of celebration after a destructive war. It was a period of time in America characterised by prosperity and optimism. There was a general feeling of disruption associated with modernity and a break with traditions.The Roaring Twenties was a time of great economic prosperity and many people became rich and wealthy. Some people inherited "old money" and some obtained "new money". However, there was the other side of prosperity and many people also suffered the nightmare of being poor. In the novel,The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a wealthy character
In book, “The Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts how the American was corrupted through wealth. Fitzgerald provides many examples. The most common example shown was Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s idea that to achieve his American Dream must be to acquire wealth. In order to show this, Fitzgerald uses various literary elements. Two of those being imagery and foreshadowing, these played a critical role in describing the theme, and specific moods to show what was to come and as well as describe the story as a whole. These play a vital role in representing Gatsby’s life and journey to acquiring Daisy, his version of the American Dream.
Not identifying himself as gay would be in keeping not only with the general tenor of the times but also with Nick’s typical caginess regarding his personal history.” (Bolton, 197) Is Nick only attracted to men? It's possible, but I believe he's attracted to both genders. He was somewhat attracted to Jordan Baker, they had a relationship of sorts. But there was no passion in it. He didn't talk or think about Jordan nearly as much as he did about Gatsby. Not to mention, he explicitly stated that he wasn't in love with her. He said this about her, “At first I was flattered to go places with her, because she was a golf champion, and everyone knew her name. Then it was something more. I wasn't actually in love with her, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity.” (Fitzgerald 57) He may have used her as a way to get closer to Gatsby, whether he did it purposefully or subconsciously. He broke up with her once Gatsby was killed because there was no point anymore. “This change, personified by the character of Baker and marked by Carraway’s complex and not wholly honest breakup with her, is ultimately what allows him to reflect on and appreciate Gatsby as a human being by the end of the novel.” (62,
The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by a renowned American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. The magnificent tale is told through the eyes of Nick Carraway and it is through his perceptions of characters that influence our thoughts of the entire story. Fitzgerald allows Nick to see both worlds and sides of conflict, as he is the moral center of the book. Even though the protagonist can be considered as an unreliable author, readers tend to agree with his sincere perceptions distinguishing between right and wrong, good people and bad people, truths and lies and reality. However, this quality does not interrupt the fact that he is an unreliable author. Revolving around the criticism of the ‘American dream’, Fitzgerald clearly uses Nick Carraway
Dreams are a compelling force in people’s lives. They are what propel them forward each and every day in an effort to reach something better. The American Dream has been sought after by millions all over the world for hundreds of years. This country was founded on the belief that anyone could achieve their dreams. However, in the 1920s these hopes and aspirations began to splinter until they ultimately shattered. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism, setting, and theme to depict the unattainability of the American Dream.
“Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so,” once said Charles de Gaulle. This valiant quote by a former president of France accentuates my opinion of the Great Jay Gatsby. From humble beginnings rises our main focus of F. Scott Fitzgeralds’ The Great Gatsby. Young Jimmy Gatz is brought to West Egg from his heavily impoverished North Dakota family. His desire to be something greater than a farmer drove him to fortune and love through any means necessary; his life long obsession, Daisy Fay, infatuates Jay in his own insatiable thirst for her affection. James follows Daisy in the years after he is deployed to World War 1, and when he sees she has married Tom Buchanan he becomes hell-bent on replicating the success Tom has inherited in order to win over Daisy. Through moderately deceitful ways, Jay Gatsby builds his wealth and reputation to rival and even supersede many already lavish family names. Astonishingly, the great Mr. Gatsby, overrun with newfound affluence, stays true to his friends, lover, and his own ideals to his blissfully ignorant end.
Gatsby. Penguin, 2014. Print. This novel is an investigation of a double murder that happened quickly after F. Scott Fitzgerald’s return to New York. With evidence from newspapers, letters, and newly found archives, the author describes the new opinions of the readers of The Great Gatsby. The author then interweaved both stories with the hope to solve the mysteries of a murder and the success behind Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. As the author does this, she compares and contrasts the events of the book and the murder to one another.This is a credible source because the author found many direct sources from the time era,
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a novel that highlights the stark contrast between the rich elites of East Egg and the dirt-poor ashen people of the Valley of Ashes through the reckless power that the wealthy of this world can exert on the unfortunate. As concluded by Nick in the novel, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness [...] and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald, 179). By thoroughly examining the thoughtless actions of Daisy and Tom Buchanan and their consequences, Baz Luhrmann's rendition of The Great Gatsby portrays the carelessness of the elites more effectively than the novel. Through the inclusion of additional scenes and the omission of some, Baz Luhrmann conveys the utter disregard that Tom and Daisy posses towards other characters in the novel.
Fitzgerald writes a story with a character that is considered “larger than life”; he throws massive parties, is in love with a married woman, is rich and goes by the name of Jay Gatsby. Nick is the narrator who is sees a different side of Gatsby that sees him “great” aside from his wealth and corruption. Nick grew up in the Jazz age and it was replaced with the vitality, and favor of the artificial American dream. Gatsby’s life was full of winnings along with failures that followed him into death throughout the novel; never the less he achieves a form of “greatness” because of his morality in Nick’s perspective.
When Nick meets up with his cousin Daisy and his old classmate Tom in East Egg, he is shown an unfamiliar side of people, a darker side, and he is at a loss and out of his element. Nick is tempted and curious about these things and they lead him away from his midwestern upbringing. The love triangles, the infidelity, gold digging and homicide disgust Nick and he becomes resolved to move back to his midwestern comfort zone almost like in doing so, he will be able to wash himself clean of the experience. Although the character Nick acts as a confidant for those around him, it seems that the burden of their indiscretions is too much for him and he returns to the familiarity and the safety of the morals he was raised on.
In The Great Gatsby, the author, F Scott Fitzgerald depicts the post - war roaring 20’s, a time of overwhelming prosperity and a new found sense of hope for the future. While this novel is often perceived as a romance, it is also a criticism on the devastating nature of the elusive american dream. The story of Jay Gatsby is a representation of what had become the values of the individual at the time. With the progression of the early 1920’s the vision of the perfect life, or the american dream, had been skewed. It was replaced with greed, and an abundance of reckless spending in which the wealthier individuals placed their misguided ideas of happiness. In the Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald chooses to expose the hidden truth behind the illustrious concept of the American dream. Through his use of literary devices such as, symbolism, metaphor, and, irony the central idea of the truly unattainable American dream is supported throughout the novel.
As Gatsby’s smile “vanishes,” his facade does as well (Fitzgerald 48). Nick then utilizes perceptive diction to illustrate his disenchantment upon realizing that the Gatsby whom he had just met was not the true Gatsby. Now, Gatsby is an “elegant young rough-neck” (Fitzgerald 48). A ‘rough-neck’ either refers to an unrefined person who lacks sophistication, or an oil rig worker and an ‘elegant’ person possesses grace and poise. Generally, a ‘rough-neck’ is incapable of being ‘elegant’ and Nick notices this contradiction, using it to expose Gatsby’s shifting, inconsistent character. In addition, Nick also notes that Gatsby’s “elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd” and he “got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care" (Fitzgerald 48). One who treads carefully, exhibiting ‘care’ when selecting words, is either an English teacher or someone attempting to curate a specific version of themselves to display to others. Previously, Nick was blissfully unaware of the facade that Gatsby had spun into existence upon first interacting with him. Now, however, he recognizes
Gatsby cannot be classified as a truly moral person who exhibits goodness or correctness in his character and behaviour. Gatsby disputes most moral damage throughout the novel. Gatsby exhibits characteristics explaining the reason behind moral decay in society. Corruption and lies are responsible for the destruction of humanity. Gatsby’s whole life’s basically is a lie as he created a fake identity for himself. A whole new persona, Jay Gatsby is not even his real name. Gatsby
Nick’s summer in the East egg is and educational experience. He learns about Tom’s affair with Myrtle and how abusive tome is- breaking Myrtle’s nose because she wants him to leave his wife. Nick about Tom and Myrtle “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (P 188). Now it’s true the education he came East Egg for was to learn about the bond business. The timing was great. It was 1992 and the economy was great. The 1920’s a happy extravagant time. Unfortunately Nick learned more about the business of the newly rich in East Egg. He discovers that Gatsby’s car was involved in an accident in which Myrtle Wilson was killed.
In the beginning of The Great Gatsby, the narrator Nick is critical of the upper class, but hopeful. Toward the end he is disappointed because he realizes how the lifestyle they live is unrealistic. During the novel, the upper class is disrespectful and full of themselves. When he gets to know the characters he notices how the upper class is so unfriendly and snotty. This easy and luxurious lifestyle that they are living is unattainable to everyone because nobody can get there. The American dream is described as making a ton of money and being snotty about it. In the novel, the hopeful and disgusted tones reflect Nick’s points of view on the unrealistic society and his points of view changes when he sees how greedy they all are