... “The Great Gatsby,” a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, depicts life in the 1920’s. “The Roaring Twenties,” a nickname given to the decade which was loaded with money and industry. It was a time where the rich people in society only had so much to do, and so much money to spend in many ways. Jay Gatsby, one of the “newly” rich people, chooses to spend his money recklessly; throwing large, extravagant parties every weekend of the summer. Fitzgerald paints a picture of modern society by writing about these crazy parties that Gatsby hosts; and using wealth to impress, lack of morals in modern society and The American Dream. All factors of how Gatsby uses parties for support and how the American Dream can be portrayed in the “Roaring Twenties.” Gatsby’s parties were huge, they brought great numbers of people from all over New York, the people who came were all unknown to each other, not many people were actually invited, and they just came, not knowing Gatsby, they did not care about him. When Nick Carraway describes what he has seen before Gatsby’s party, “At least once a fortnight a corps of caterers came down....On the buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d’ oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs...In the main hall a bar with a real brass rail....By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived” (44), he tells of the luxuries provided by Gatsby in order to accommodate and impress his...
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...Throughout history, humans have struggled with the issue of morality. In America during the 1920’s, the time Period in which F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, morality took a back seat to living a vapid life full of alcohol, adultery, and anything that would grant immediate gratification. Throughout the novel three characters, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby show the effects of materialism, dishonesty, infidelity, and adultery. Tom shows adultery and infidelity, Daisy and Gatsby show dishonesty, and all three show the effects of materialism. The themes expressed in The Great Gatsby, as shown by the actions of Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom show us the flaws in living a life free of ethical values. Tom Buchanan truly embodies the wasteful, morally corrupt spirit of the 1920’s. He is arrogant, racist, prodigal, and has more family money than he could ever spend. Tom...
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...Molly Dadrugue December 13, 2014 Gatsby and the American Dream “I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American dream.” -Bruce Springsteen Through the use of metaphors and analogies, Fitzgerald creates a reflective and logical conclusion to The Great Gatsby. In this concluding passage, the narrator, Nick, provides an explanation regarding the extinction of the American Dream, the theme of the novel. The American Dream is not shown to be the American reality in this emotionally and figuratively colorful novel. Fitzgerald uses the analogy of the American Dream in comparison to the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. The green light represents Gatsby’s dream of being with Daisy. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.” (Fitzgerald) This quote describes the metaphor of the green light being Gatsby’s glimpse of hope that he and Daisy will be together in the future. Gatsby’s ignorance caused him to lose touch with the reality that year by year Daisy is moving further and further from Gatsby. This is similar to the American Dream because the green light is being compared to the continent of America. The Dutch sailors mentioned in the passage see American as a glimpse of hope for mankind. With this the American Dream is created, but as time goes by the American Dream seems to fade into a fantasy, just as Daisy fades into an element of Gatsby’s fantasies. At the end of this...
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...In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, wealth being equal to happiness was normal among the characters living in New York. In the 1920's, Americans base their worth on how much money they make, how grand their household-goods were, and the amount of elaborate parties they could hold at their extravagant homes. In the end, the amount of money someone possesses does not determine their morality, spirituality, or their personality. The love of wealth can cause corruption and disruption in people's hearts and this is shown through the behavior of Tom and Myrtle, Daisy's rejection of Gatsby, and Gatsby's plan to redeem Daisy's love. Tom and Mrytle are on two opposite ends of society, Tom is...
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...Discuss the portrayal of New York Society at the turn of the twentieth century in Edith Wharton’s “The House of Mirth.” Edith Wharton’s ‘House of Mirth’ critically depicts New York’s society at the turn of the 19th century as money orientated, unequal and content with its missing morals and ethics. Having experienced first-hand the upper class of America, Wharton is able to expose this dismal society in a way many other writers were unable to. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, the Great Gatsby society is also a key theme. Based in the growing New York of the 1920s, Fitzgerald portrays the theme of society through the influx of new money and its difference between those of old money. Due to the historical differences between the two novels, Wharton’s novel can been seen as a criticism of this society; Fitzgerald’s novel uses society to enhance the plot, sometimes he does criticise it. Fitzgerald criticises this society as he reveals it to be a lost generation after a major worldwide conflict, which has turned into a hedonistic and materialistic society. Word Count for Page One: 313 Word Count for Page One: 313 Money plays a big part within the characters’ lives and the society within ‘House of Mirth’. Wealth is an important factor, in order to be accepted into the higher society. Lily teeters on the edge of this society, however her lack of money limits her from being accepted fully. Wharton explores the idea of inherited wealth through characters such as Percy Gryce, she displays...
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...When comparing Gatsby and Janie in The Great Gatsby, and Their Eyes Were Watching God, Gatsby was the more hopeful person. He took initiative and tried desperately to win back the love of his life. Janie, although not as hopeful, took initiative as well, and tried to gain control of her life. In trying to accomplish similar goals, both go through a degree of maturity. But, even though Janie hated Nanny because Nanny told her to marry someone rich and not for her to follow her dreams, due to the fact that Janie had Nanny to teach her moral values, Janie does mature. This was because the values that she was raised with stuck with her, though perhaps subconsciously. On the other hand, Gatsby, who had little to no interaction with his parents when...
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...Prohibition and The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is set in the 1920s. Havinn wrote about the nightlife and bootlegging of the that time period. While the government was shutting down bars, and clubs, then having gang’s members taking over the parade and opening up speakeasies. Making the government having a prohibition, but it didn’t really make the people stop drinking. On a relative note when banning the production of alcohol it made people desire it more. Going to imply that the same goes for Gatsby having the desire to have more money to get Daisy's attention towards him to make him notice and more appealing when his achievements. But it backfires on him and Daisy stays with Tom and doesn’t care a damn. I know you didn’t mean to, but you did do it. “That’s what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big hulking physical specimen of a-”- Daisy. The center of the book is Jay Gatsby coming from a dirt poor family, being a big dreamer, and also a big risk taker. Like for example doing anything to win Daisy back for himself. Keeping his past behind him and others that he meets along the way. Deceiving...
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...The Great Gatsby, which is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a story that portrays the day-to-day life occurrences that encircles the society in a deeper sense. The novel displays the problems that curb everyday life, such as issues affecting various marriages, the upcoming of a society or change of social class of individuals. The novel has enlightened irresponsibility as one of the critical topics that Fitzgerald wants his audience to consider and look at deeply. This paper is aimed at discussing the critical topic of irresponsibility, which is prevalent throughout the novel, making it the most appropriate topic to discuss by developing an argument on it, from a personal interpretation of the novel and thereafter raising a complex argument that is defendable. Consideration should also be given to the examination of the deeper layers in the critical themes, symbols, characterization, or conflicts taking into consideration irresponsibility as the critical topic to base the argument on. Lastly, this paper clearly shows the main point to substantiate, which include irresponsibility in marriages, moral decadence, as well as social class. Personal interpretation and defendable argument Fitzgerald has extensively outlined the level of irresponsibility that existed in the early times that followed World War I. Irresponsibility has been depicted mostly in the relationship and marriages, which constituted the infidelity that the married couples in the novel were subjected...
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...The Great Gatsby is a 2013 epic romantic drama film based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel. When F.Scott Fitzgerald evoked popular music of his period, he was criticized because jazz has ephemera of the moment. The idea to fuse traditional jazz and modern hip-hop. Regard as serious art form unto itself. The songs in the film epitomize the 1920s as wells as the characters of the novel in many distinctive ways. That hybrid comes across most clearly n retro modern sings that fuse old and new like (songs) and the eccentric covers . Primarily, the song is used in a scene to express a heightened nervousness as Gatsby is anxiously waiting to be reunited with Daisy at teas with Nick Carraway. It gave a comic relief→ amusing scene showing Gatsby butterflies in stomach / playfulness and quirkiness, his vulnerability. and we *prominently see *We love the idea that he is crazy in love....
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...When Nick Carraway came back from the east after the summer of 1922, he was disgusted with what he’d seen. Only one man was exempt from his disgust, that man being Gatsby. In the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald creates an America society that contradicts everything America prides itself on which is lack of aristocracy and equal opportunity. The United states is a country that was so great due to the idea of the American dream, which the founding fathers of the nation built the country on. Fitzgerald utilizes deep characterization and symbolism to elaborate themes of the American dream to display what the American dream truly stood for and what it has become. Throughout the plot we come to recognize themes of American dream, through deep insight into characters and what they represent in the American society. After Nick...
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...and accomplishment. F Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, is an effective critique on the corruption that surrounds the American Dream. It is also a commentary on the warped view of Western hedonism and idealized lifestyles. The dream is portrayed strongly through the characters, depicting undignified ways to obtain wealth, the amoral social interactions and the illusion of affection and false fellowship. Thus exposing the unscrupulousness, self-absorption and disillusionment that lie at the wake of the American Dream. Fitzgerald critiques on the ideal of ‘self-made’ men (financially) and how through sheer desperation, men stray from conformity and followed a deviated path in order to reach wealth. The American Dream is the belief that regardless of one’s socio-economic background, an individual could still reach financial triumph through hard work, education and drive-which has been the belief of the American society. According to American sociologist Robert K. Merton, American society has generated common desires and pressures for material possession-which is how success was measured- those who fail to succeed by conformity or valid means, resort to devious acts to do so. Fitzgerald comments on this aspect of his society through the portrayal of Gatsby in the novel; who employed unorthodox ways of obtaining wealth in order to gain his incommunicable desire for Daisy’s affection. His illegal background was hinted by Gatsby himself: “… You see, I carry on a little business...
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...The Great Gatsby People spend a portion of their lives trying to better themselves. Many people set goals as motivation for something they would like to achieve. Having goals was definitely a factor in the lives of Jay Gatsy, Tom Buchanan, and Nick Carraway. Jay Gatsby has the goal of being a success and getting Daisy for his own and admitting she has never loved Tom. Tom Buchanan has the goal of running down Gatsby and proving his illegal ways. Nick Carraway also has the goal of being a success but his main goal is to keep his morals and honesty. All three men work to achieve their goals. Some succeed fully while some only succeed partially. The goals of these three men play a major role in the novel The Great Gastby. Jay Gatsby had the goal of becoming a success and getting Daisy for himself and having her admit that she has never loved Tom. Jay Gatsby has only partially met his goals. Jay Gatsby met Daisy when he was a poor solider with the name of James Gatz. At first he thought of her as just a woman to use but than he discovered he loved her. She was part of the blue bloods and her social class did not approve of them together, her parents would not even let her say goodbye to him when he left for war. Gatsby knew in order to have Daisy he would have to make himself rich and successful. This motivated him to change his name to Jay Gatsby and make a whole new person out of himself. Gatsby became involved in illegal activities such as bootlegging and became rich. He than...
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...After reading The Great Gatsby, Jacqueline Lance, author of the article “Driving to Destruction with the Rich and Careless at the Wheel” in the journal Studies in Popular Culture, wrote about her observations of automobiles which represented the social status of the characters in the novel: Not only are characters defined by the kind and color of automobile they drive, but the way they behave behind the wheel strongly indicates their attitude towards life and relationships; those who are “careless” drivers approach life in the same manner with which they approach the open road. The characters in the novel who are the most careless drivers emerge as those who are the most careless in their personal relationships. Lance suggests that during the 1920s, the automobile represents the class structure and the type of automobile determines a person’s status. Color symbolically displays a person’s important characteristic. For example, Gatsby’s Roll Royce advertises his “new rich,” and its yellow color, which applies to gold,...
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...In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, there is an obvious hiatus between the different social classes. Jay Gatsby is a wealthy man who resides in West Egg. Before Gatsby moved to West Egg, he had a relationship with Daisy Buchanan, who is Nick Carraway’s cousin. Gatsby went away from Daisy so he could fight in the war. While Gatsby was away, Daisy married Tom Buchanan and eventually moved to East Egg, where all the old money is. Gatsby moves to West Egg, where all the new money resides, so he could get back with Daisy. Between West and East Egg is an area called the valley of ashes, which all the working class and poor people live. In his novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism and characterization to create the theme of the disconnect between the social classes. Fitzgerald uses symbolism for the valley of ashes to display the disconnect between the social classes. The valley of ashes is a poor area which connects West Egg to East Egg. It is full of “men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Fitzgerald 23). The valley of ashes symbolizes the poor people who live in the dirty...
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...The Great Gatsby Critical Lens L.M. Montgomery once said, “We pay a price for all we get or receive in this world." In other words, there are consequences that we receive for all we receive in this society. This quote is true because for, example, something such as winning the lottery is something we get but, we pay a price for this with people feeling entitled to a piece of the winnings, as well as false sense of friendship never knowing if there using you for the materialist purpose. This quote is especially true and best formatted for The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The use of literary elements such as setting and symbolism further illustrate the validity of the quote. The author shows this with the use of setting. Fitzgerald’s description of setting incorporates and reflects the crime and corruption of the time, the loose morality of the roaring twenties, and the ever growing social divisions between the haves and the have-nots. This is an illustration of setting because it shows the divide between four major settings in the novel East Egg, West Egg, the Valley of Ashes, and New York City. (Including, fully developing the characters Fitzgerald spent many a pages concerned with detail). These descriptions developed the mood and pace, the tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses of the characters are directly linked to their location. The author shows this when he says the main characters is represented in this city as described in this quote. “The City seen from the...
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