Examples Of Stereotypes In The Great Gatsby

In media, people often find themselves engulfed in stereotypes. In fact, many stories are written about breaking stereotypes or giving a stereotype more depth. In the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, many stereotypes are explored as the author attempts to capture a moment in the culture during the Roaring 20s. Fitzgerald uses stereotypes in his novel to create a relatable first-person narrator, and to depict how certain hardships can transcend wealth. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man who comes from old money in the midwest and moves to New York to try out a different occupation. He ends up renting a home in the West Egg, which is an area that is mostly occupied by “new money” directly across the East Egg which is occupied

At dinner, Daisy and her husband leave the room, which is when a friend of Daisy’s enlightens Nick as to what their marriage is actually like. “Tom’s got some woman in New York.”(Fitzgerald 15). Nick could not fully grasp what he just heard. This ties together the stereotypes about infidelity in marriages of old money and the relatability of Nick’s reaction to the reader. Later when Daisy is speaking to Nick alone, she describes the birth of her daughter and says, “...that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”(Fitzgerald 17). This brings the stereotypes about old money to life as Daisy implies she would rather her daughter was a fool rather than being aware enough to see the flaws of the society she lives in. It indicates Daisy’s own unhappiness with her experiences as a woman in her community. Just a few seconds later Nick “...felt the basic insincerity of what she said…”

In the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses stereotypes to build illusions and impressions before beginning to leave some space for sympathy from the reader. Jay Gatsby is introduced as a stereotype, a young bachelor who is rumored to have just come into a large sum of money and regularly blows his money on hosting lavish parties. The narrator, Nick Carraway, employs a stereotype about Gatsby, “But young men didn’t…drift coolly out of nowhere and buy a palace on Long Island Sound.” (Fitzgerald 49). Here, Fitzgerald introduces a common idea about young wealthy men and lets the reader know that Gatsby’s behavior is considered abnormal. The author is able to use this observation to pique the reader’s interest while he reveals what Gatsby truly struggles with. Later Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy’s tells Nick what the real reason behind Gatsby’s behavior is, “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.”(Fitzgerald 78). Gatsby was apparently in love with Daisy and had been since before the war, he was lovesick. The inference about Gatsby living in the new-money side of town adds to his story. While Gatsby was an elusive character at the beginning of the novel, over time he becomes the quintessential stereotype of a young man who is inexperienced with money, and the kinds of problems money can solve. Towards the end of the novel, when Gatsby is