Examples Of Idolatry In The Great Gatsby

Golden Calves: The Repercussions of Idolatry in a Great American Novel

In the Lutheran doctrine Large Catechism, written in 1529, Martin Luther writes, “That to which your heart clings and entrusts itself is, I say, really your God,” (Luther, The First Commandment). Luther discusses the First Commandment, a sacred religious rule. The most common Biblical symbol for idolatry is the Golden Calf. The Golden Calf was a calf statue made of gold that the Israelites worshipped instead of God. In this story, the Israelites were explicitly worshiping an idol; however, any person who is attached to and worships an imperfect thing is worshiping a false idol–their personal Golden Calf. Idols end up guiding everyday decisions and actions, and since the idols are earthly, they are imperfect, leading to imperfect decisions. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, warns of the dangers of idolatry through the repercussions the characters face for worshiping imperfect things.

“Idolatry” is a term used to describe

Nick also appears to have some form of religion in his life. After Myrtle dies, Wilson keeps saying that nothing can be hidden from God, yet whenever he says this, he stares at the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg (Fitzgerald, Chapter 7). Nick has referenced the eyes in the past, specifically during a gathering at Myrtle and Tom’s apartment. Nick narrates, “Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets” (Fitzgerald, chapter 2). Through temptation and chaos during the party, Nick’s attention focuses on the “casual watcher”, who Fitzgerald implies is Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. Fitzgerald is using T. J. Eckleburg as a symbol of God. Nick does not face any problems throughout the novel. Since Nick does not have any Golden Calf, he does not