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Social Norms in Fitzgerald´s The Great Gatsby

Decent Essays
In The Great Gatsby, chapters five and six, provide crucial insights about the title character, Gatsby, and about the social norms of American society during the roaring twenties. Fitzgerald finally reveals Gatsby’s past and his tenacious, single minded nature when chasing his dreams, whether that entails becoming an entirely different person or pursuing Daisy. Chapter six demonstrates the longstanding and hostile division between “old money” and “new money,” which is induced mainly by the haughty attitude the aristocrats hold towards the newly rich. Jay Gatsby is but a fake persona fabricated by James Gatz, a farm boy born of “shiftless and unsuccessful” parents. Even from the start, James was unable to accept his poor lot in life, firm in his belief that he had a higher calling, a destiny. His denial of his parents, and their poverty, was so absolute, and his drive to succeed so powerful, he managed to will Jay Gatsby into existence. The destitute boy from North Dakota built a fortune that surpassed even that of the elites. His success in becoming Gatsby and amassing great wealth, despite his humble beginnings, demonstrates his ingenuity and conviction as well as reveal a vital flaw in his personality: fixation. This aspect to his character becomes more evident in his quest for Daisy. Although nearly five years have passed since his separation with Daisy and she is already married now, he still continues to pursue her with the same zeal and passion as he did when they
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