Examples Of Discrimination In The Great Gatsby

To what extent does discrimination hinder the American Dream?

The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925 depicting the interactions of the narrator with other characters in pursuit of the American Dream. The novel is set in the roaring twenties, a time of post-war economic boom and prominent disparity between upper and lower class. Set in 1960’s America, Hidden Figures (2017) is a biographical film directed by Theodore Melfi that follows the lives of three female, African-American mathematicians whose work was vital to the launch of John Glenn. The film emphasises the social issues of segregation, sexism and gender norms. Despite the time difference in both the publication and setting of the texts, they both express

As a valley of ashes citizen, Myrtle Wilson is a woman of low social class who has no chance of rising through societal ranks to attain wealth and the American Dream. Along with her low social class status, Myrtle remains unhappy with her marriage throughout the novel. Before the narrative begins, Myrtle is said to have married her husband, George Wilson, for love but soon realised that it was a mistake because “he’d borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in,” (pg. 38). Myrtle is a character obsessed with wealth and prestige so soon after marrying George, she regrets her decision due to his financial situation and societal rank. Myrtle fell out of love with her husband when she learned that he was unable to provide her with the material life she desires, and the wealthy life she believes she deserves, is brought to her attention. So, Myrtle begins an affair with Tom Buchanan, caring only about his wealth and status and disregarding his position as one of the wealthy, white males that barricade her in the status she was born and/or marries into. On page 33, Nick narrates, “With the influence of the dress, her personality had also undergone a change.” This quote emphasises Myrtle’s desire to have to have the American Dream, to have a happy marriage and to have wealth and status. However, like for most, this is unachievable for Myrtle Wilson as she is repressed by both her gender and financial stability. It is implied that if Myrtle was a woman of high social status, Tom may have left Daisy for her, proving again that the American Dream is only achievable for those who are rich. While Myrtle plays pretend while she is with Tom, the American Dream for her, is entirely unachievable as she cannot rise through the societal ranks of class and wealth to attain