Fitzgerald's Use Of The Distinctive Voice In The Great Gatsby

The ideological concept of social hegemony, based on the stratification of class, ensures that the ruling elite, the aristocracy, have absolute power over social institutions, with the ability to control and determine dominant social values. “The Great Gatsby” (1925), by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a contemporary realism novella, which explores the tragic adventures of the titular character, Jay Gatsby, as narrated by his neighbour and friend Nick Carraway. Fitzgerald’s scathing attack upon the selfish and frivolous values of the 1920s Jazz Age is effectively constructed through the author’s use of Carraway’s distinctive voice, to develop the ironic idea of Gatsby as “great” and his representation of the American Dream, the manipulative attitude

Despite what the title suggests, within “The Great Gatsby”, Jay Gatsby is neither truly great, nor even named Gatsby. His elaborate transition from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby, both literally and figuratively changing his identity, completing an ingenious façade to replicate the essence of greatness Gatsby sees in the aristocracy. Although Gatsby attempts to build his own greatness through material wealth, his only means is through the criminal activities of Wolfstein, with this unsavoury connection to the insidious underbelly of New York City undermining Gatsby’s quest for greatness. It is only from the distinctive perspective of Nick Carraway that the idea of Gatsby as “great” emerges. As explained by Carraway, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us” (pg. 140), this glamourous hopefulness being what attracts Carraway towards Gatsby, with Gatsby representing the idea of the American Dream for Nick Carraway. The idea of the American Dream is similarly constructed in Chimamanda Adichie’s anthology, “The Thing Around Your Neck” (2013), where the American Dream is described as a compromise; “You gave up a lot, but you gained a lot too” (pg. 115). However, the irony of Gatsby as a “great” character, constructs the American Dream as nothing more than a perpetuated myth. Gatsby’s

Within the novella, the aristocracy is represented by Daisy and Tom Buchanan, who have both “assented [themselves] to a rather distinguished secret society” (pg. 13), which exclusively rules over society. The attitude of the aristocracy towards the bourgeoise is marred by the growth of new money, as the newly acquired wealth of the bourgeoise threatens the power of the aristocracy, leading to deep social divisions, symbolised by the explosive conflict between Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. The attitude of the aristocracy towards the proletariat is one of literal exploitation, as the residents of the Valley of the Ashes are forced to feed the growing riches of the aristocracy. Socially superior, the aristocracy remain either unconcerned with the plight of the poor, “and of Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor” (pg. 115), or exploit the working class, as demonstrated by Tom’s manipulation of Wilson. The further below Tom’s social status a character is, the worse he treats them, with Wilson being the most manipulated character, as Tom not only sleeps with Wilson’s wife without his knowledge, but also uses him to dispose of Gatsby. Fitzgerald uses Nick’s description of the aristocracy and