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Disillusionment In The Great Gatsby

1564 Words7 Pages

The Roaring 20’s Excess and Disillusionment Navigating the rapidly changing America, modernistic literature captures what it was like for society in the midst of the jazz age. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the 1920s era was shown in lavish, excessive ways. People were trying to find reason in life after the depressing events that led up to this time period. This want for change erupted into an epitome of expression, focusing on material riches and drive for social status. “Consumer culture” became popular, and advertisements all around pushed families to buy new, convenient items (History.com). Jobs and education were more available than ever, and many men were trying to take advantage of this new convenience. The Great Gatsby …show more content…

Although Gatsby attains an immense amount of wealth through dedicated work, he still faces class separation when he invites the Sloane’s and Buchanan’s over for dinner. Mrs. Sloane sarcastically ask him out for dinner, and he accepts but it is not a genuine invitation, "My God, I believe the man's coming, said Tom. Doesn't he know she doesn't want him?" (Fitzgerald 66). Gatsby cannot detect the social cues among the old money company, which alludes to the fact that he is not accepted. The West Egg which Gatsby lives in is seen as a clear sign that someone comes from new money. Old money/East Egg looks down on this as a boisterous party scene which is tacky and fake. To explain this idea, Nicks narration states about Gatsby’s party, “East egg condescending to West Egg, and carefully on guard against its spectroscopic gayety” (Fitzgerald 35). It is clear throughout The Great Gatsby that old money families provide a negative tone towards those of new money. And with money came reputation to figures trying to make it to the top. Once at the top, the Buchanan’s use their money and status to hide from both internal and external problems. Internal problems being their conflict about who they truly love, and externally being the affairs with Gatsby and Myrtle. When Gatsby dies, Daisy and Tom escape to Minnesota, “Then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness” (Fitzgerald 130). People who are above others financially, are careless to their actions because they believe money will always fix it. “No amount of money, lies, or material items can help them achieve perfection. The Great Gatsby is a novel that challenges the idea that true happiness comes from perfection” (Jeanpierre). The reoccurring false ideal of a perfect reputation, wealth, and success is expressed in The Great Gatsby using

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