The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

In The Great Gatsby, there were primarily three different social classes of the 1920s portrayed in the book. Each was created through the events of the era and was surrounded by its own social and moral climates. One class that existed was “old money”, which were families that lived in the East Egg that and had acquired their fortunes as early

In the period of the 1920s, a certain status of wealth was difficult to achieve. Two consisting societal classes were of those with wealth from prior generations, and 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 money to work and earn for. 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 to achieve 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, creates 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 which Daisy expressed through Gatsby’s rejection, because of the corrupt way in which he gained his wealth, making his American Dream unattainable.

“The past is never where you think you left it” (Katherine Anne Porter). People intentionally not willing to leave their past due to the prehistoric memories because the good memory they had. Relevant to Porter’s evince in the novel of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby a guy who cannot leave his past, constantly wanting to change everything back to the past with his former lover Daisy but never succeeds due to people’ desire of meliorate their lives. During this process the novel also reveals that there’s no distinction of careless between people in the 1920’s and the corruption of American Dream. Fitzgerald uses color symbolism to reveal the unfaithful condition of living and the loss of purity also the descended moral

There were many symbols in the Great Gatsby that shows how Fitzgerald was affected by the times of the 1920s as he was writing the book. One of the places, the Valley of Ashes that was in the book and was shown in the movie was that the Valley of Ashes was a poor and dusty place. The Valley of Ashes would symbolize the poverty of the poor class and the hopelessness that goes with it. “... a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.” (Fitzgerald, pg 26.) The descriptions in the book also helps support the idea that the Valley of Ashes

The Great Gatsby entails of a story of a bright young man, Nick Carraway, who moved to New York City in search of a successful life in the bonds business, but becomes suffocated by the lifestyles of those in wealth and power at the time. As Nick settles himself in a new job and new city, in the only cottage among mansions on West and East Egg, he finds himself neighbor to a mysterious, wealthy man known for his extravagant parties and elusive persona. This neighbor, Jay Gatsby, emerges to be one of the main characters of the novel and the only person in all of New York that Nick can call a friend. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, encompasses the hollowness of the upper class as well as the deterioration of the “American Dream” within the plotline of the lives of Nick, Gatsby, and the Buchanan’s. Because of the themes Fitzgerald created, it prompts people, such as Bruccoli, to make the claim “The Great Gatsby does not proclaim the nobility of the human spirit; it is not politically correct; it does not reveal how to solve the problems of life; it delivers no fashionable or comforting messages. It is just a masterpiece.” While the Great Gatsby is a masterpiece, Bruccoli correctly examines the text in revealing no nobility of the human spirit, no solutions to the problems of life, and it is politically incorrect. However, despite the dismal themes, Fitzgerald does deliver fashionable/comforting messages to the audience. Bruccoli’s claim brings to light the

The Great Gatsby written in 1925 was a novel that expresses F. Scott Fitzgerald’s concerns for the direction that America was headed in during that decade. During the novel he repeatedly gives examples of the contrast of the economic classes; the thriving upper class in extravagant living conditions while the lower class lives in filth like “fields of ashes.” To criticize the American upper class during the nineteen twenties, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses vivid imagery in his revelation of Gatsby’s facade to give the reader an idea of the contrast among the classes of the early nineteenth century and how it continues to last.

The novel is based around Jay Gatsby, the protagonist who obtains an exuberant amount of wealth and rises from the well-kept secret working class he was born into. However, he is unable to attain that true upper class, despite the fortune he has amassed. While Gatsby fooled many into believing he was a part of the upper class, he was unable to deceive the upper class. Jay Gatsby is never able to climb to the social class equivalent to his economic class; emphasizing that class strata are not based on how much money is amassed or the possession owned, but, from the social class one is born into. Through the novel, Fitzgerald proves that mobility does not exist and that social fluidity is prevented by the upper classes and their insurmountable grasp over power and control. In the 1920s, American society did not allow for social mobility, portrayed by Gatsby’s downfall as he attempted to delude the upper class by associating wealth with class.

The book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald has been read in schools for decades. The experience is different for everyone. Some may love this book while others just purely hate it. I have to say I am in between loving and hating this book. I do like the look into the lives of the rich of the 1920s and I did enjoy the overall story. However the cheating I wasn’t fond of. I do understand that is what happens with the rich so I do enjoy the fact that it historically accurate. Another topic that I will touch upon is the drunkenness and reckless driving portrayed, quite accurately, for this time period.

F. Scott Fitzgerald who is the author of this novel is trying to send a message to the readers. In this novel we get to see Fitzgerald’s opinion since everything is based on how the rich people get all the big opportunities and yet still do not seem to use these possibilities fully. For instance all what Gatsby does is spending a ton of money on host parties for people who is or believe they are in a higher social class. Even though we are able to see that Fitzgerald do not like the rich people, it seems like it rankled him enough to pay so much attention on them. He once said “I have never been able to forgive the rich for being rich, and it has colored my entire life and works.” He wants to express his opinion through the stories, but in a way that the middle class

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.

In his novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes the moral decay of the Lost Generation in the aftermath of World War I. He does this through the interactions of Nick Carraway and his associates, Jay Gatsby, Jordan Baker, and Tom and Daisy Buchanan, describing through Nick the attempts of Gatsby to try and rediscover his relationship with Daisy. Gatsby ultimately fails to do so and ends up dying thinking he could still pursue a lost dream. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby as an example of the Lost Generation ideals failing in the novel. To help show the “lostness” of the Lost Generation, which include moral bankruptcy (lack of morals) and indecisiveness on what to do with their lives, Fitzgerald employs many motifs throughout the novel,

Throughout the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick uses the “I” in a past tense as he, the narrator, tells his story and at the end makes the realization that Gatsby and Nick share a commonality in life, therefore, Nick changes his world standpoint to include Gatsby, thus the “We” connection. In the beginning Nick starts off by telling us of the advice his father gave him (“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, “he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”). From his father’s teachings, Nick learns about what morality is, to be tolerant of the under privileged resulting in his identifying with the wealthy, which begins his “I” perspective. Thereupon, at

In the book, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby is exemplified through many symbols and idols. Fitzgerald uses cars to represent wealth, success, status, and glamour. As Friedrich Nietzsche states, “There are more idols in the world than there are realities.” Nietzsche’s quote shows how idols and symbols are used to create impressions. Images are powerful and set a stage for others to judge one’s character, enabling human beings to avoid seeing what realities are. Idols are potent enough to mask the truth. In the novel, despite Gatsby 's own insecurities, he is viewed as an idol in society. Idols impact and influence Gatsby’s life and those living around him. Gatsby’s car represents an idol, illustrating his wealth, capturing attention, creating impressions, and covering misconceptions throughout life in the West Egg.

After World War I, America offered the potential for boundless financial and social opportunities for those willing to work hard—an American Dream. The American Dream is defined as someone starting low on the economic or social level, and working hard towards prosperity and or wealth and fame. Establishing fame, becoming wealthy, having lavish luxuries, and a happy family would come to symbolize this dream. For some, however, striving for and realizing that dream ruined them, as many acquired wealth only to pursue pleasure. Even though the characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby appear to relish the freedom of the 1920s, their lives demonstrate the emptiness that results when wealth and pleasure become ends in themselves. Specifically, the empty lives of three characters from this novel— George Wilson, Jay Gatsby, and Daisy Buchanan—show that chasing hollow dreams results only in misery.

“The Great Gatsby” and “Washington Square” are both novels that greatly depicted their time period and how society viewed men and women. “The Great Gatsby” is about a young man named Gatsby who tries to reignite an old relationship with his new found wealth. Gatsby essentially dedicates his entire life to get Daisy back while she has long moved on. “Washington Square” is about a young girl named Catherine who tries to find love with a man named Morris, but has to deal with the strict control of her father. Catherine’s aunt, Lavinia Penniman, was meddlesome in Catherine’s life which also greatly ruined Catherine’s and Morris’ relationship. These books focus on image, illusions and relationships. I will be focusing on various relationships in both novels.