Is Fitzgerald writing a love story that embraces American ideals, or a satire that comments on American ideals? “The Great Gatsby” was written in 1925, during a time period that brought tremendous changes in the way the society worked in America. After World War 1, the stock market started to rise consistently, which resulted in an increased national wealth. The sudden boost in the economy created many new wealthy citizens and popularized materialism, a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values, as people wanted to show off their wealth (Oxford). Fitzgerald uses satire to criticize the American dream, that hard work will bring success and wealth no matter your social status and to
One of the major themes that was present throughout the novel, the Great Gatsby, by F.Scott Fitzgerald, is the shallow and hollowness of the upper class people. Throughout the novel a series of events occur that support the idea of the upper class having a shallow life. Firstly, the relationship between the two characters Daisy and Tom, whom have been married for 5 years, seems to proceed towards a broken marriage. The two individuals lack loyalty and faithfulness to one another, even after being bonded in a marriage, for up to 5 years they have no attachment or feelings to one another. Tom is portrayed as a womanizer and has never been fully committed to his wife, and on the other hand his wife continuously has a new love interest, depicting both of the individuals as shallow and feeling-less.
The effect money has on characters of The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald’s magnum opus, The Great Gatsby was set in the early 1920’s. The era consisted of speak easies, extravagant parties, and being extremely careless with money. All of these were clearly depicted in the novel, as well as the effect that money had on most of the characters. Fitzgerald demonstrates that not only were the wealthy characters controlled by money but characters who were poor could be just as easily controlled by money. Jay Gatsby, the main character is known for his extravagant parties, although no one has ever seen him nor knows much about him, he continues throwing the parties.
Daisy shows her struggles with the social status of women through her daughter and relationship with Tom. Jordan proves that being a “new” women of the 1920s comes with a price of judgment and accusations of dishonesty. Myrtle seeks to become a member of the
“I hope she’ll be a fool - that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, beautiful little fool.” This quote from Daisy Fay-Buchanan in Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is a very great example of how women are viewed in the novel. While this book has many themes to it, the main focus of this paper is going to be focused on the women; Daisy Fay-Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Myrtle Wilson. Each of these women plays a very different, but yet very important role in the novel and in the feminist theme. Daisy Buchanan is the main female character in the novel and one of the most important parts of the entire story.
Throughout this novel Fitzgerald illustrates how such economic prosperity affected the upper and middle classes who are, of course, represented expertly through one-dimensional characters like Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker. In The Great Gatsby readers are made to realise that money is not everything, that paper cannot buy happiness. How meaningful and true. It becomes clear that despite America gaining a plethora of newfound wealth, people should not disregard their humanity in pursuit of fortune because, consequently, they become corrupt, blinded and obsessed like the characters. To further stress these messages, powerful metaphors such as the green light (an elusive goal), the Valley of Ashes (the plight of the poor/moral and social decay) and the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg (Eyes of God judging America) have been used.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby describes the life of Jay Gatsby in the 1920’s. The novel shares his love story and his loneliness. A major question the author raises is how does wealth impact class structure and society? Fitzgerald answers this question through the distinction between “New rich” and “Old rich” and the significance of East and West Egg.
Wealth vs. Happiness The Roaring 20s’ represented a time of economic prosperity and the introduction of new values. In places like New York City, tycoons and promiscuous women lead the social class pyramid as shown in novels such as The Great Gatsby. The novel, which involves the disregard of prohibition, new social issues, humongous fortunes, and a tragic death, serves as a collection of lessons that apply to modern-day society. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, Daisy and Gatsby’s wealth ultimately shows the reader that money does not equal happiness.
Long Island in the 1920s was an experience for people to live a lavish lifestyle and have dreams that they would become rich. The Great Gatsby focuses on the elites of our society, who lived in the West and East egg. Women at this time were very money based. When applied to The Great Gatsby, the feminist lens highlights the true motivations behind the decisions women made in the roaring 1920s through the characters Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan. Daisy is usually described as materialistic and is very desperate to have a lot of money.
Though the Women Rights Movement, which leaded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton started since 1848, female’s unfair treatments did not meliorated hugely, there are also traditional families desire not to change, Daisy was the one who deeply impacted by the strict rules for female who needs to tolerant her husband’s betrayal. “Well, she was less than an hour old and Tom was God knows where, … ‘I’m glad it’s a girl and I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool’” (Fitzgerald, 16-17). In terms of the depressed words said by Daisy, it clearly demonstrated the difficulty of female to live in that time period, she had to tolerant his husband’s mistress and her vacuous daily life.
The 1920s in the United State is usually documented as a time of economic and social growth and prosperity, evidenced by the growth of Fordism and an expansion of women’s rights. These developments have led many to the consensus that they are living in The American Dream. Alongside such developments, however, the gap between the rich and the poor kept growing, allowing those of better financial and social status to develop harsher critiques over the poor and more importantly, during the industrial age, allow them to have power over those less fortunate (DIScovery 1). These socio-economic divides and relationships between both parties are explored in Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” Fitzgerald illustrates the dominance the wealthy upper
Throughout the nineteen-twenties, the infrastructure of America and it’s stature amongst the world blossomed at unprecedented levels. Materialism drove the desires and futures of citizens and became an entity of the average person. Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby to address the issue of the effects of wealth at the time through the eyes of Nick Carraway. Although Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom are content with their prosperity and wealth in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald portrays wealth as a curse that corrupts those who possess it.
The Dream of women is the American Dream Women, for a long duration of history, were suppressed by society and men. Many have been denied equal treatment and were told that it was “a man’s job.” Their aspect of the American Dream has mostly been ignored or held in respect with men’s American Dream. However, advancements had been made in society and gender equality. Women in today’s time and society can achieve the American Dream because they can work hard to achieve success, popular views have changed to accept independence in women, and many have reached respectable positions that were once thought to be only for men; however, they still are treated with inequality in many aspects of life, but are able to rise above the discrimination and reach the American Dream.
The Great Gatsby is set in the roaring 20s, a period of excitement, where music, dance, and wealth flourished across the U.S. The energy and exhilaration of the period can most clearly be seen in New York City, coincidentally where this novel takes place. The individuals in The Great Gatsby seem to take a part in this “thrill seeking” attitude of the 1920s and when doing so, they tend to collect things that appeal to them and are suitable for their self enjoyment. However, women at the time experienced inequality in society, creating a divide in motivation between the male and female characters when they attempt to collect. While the male character’s collections may mirror the female’s, their motivation for collecting is what ultimately distinguishes the two
The 1920’s was a very interesting time in United States history. After all World War I had ended and many Americans did not realize that the Great Depression was in the near future, so the 1920’s fell between these two dramatic events. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby teaches many morals, but none more important than the duality of the 1920’s. Duality is evident in Gatsby's dreams, his death, his lover Daisy, his wealth, and his parties, which all reflect the duality of the 1920’s. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald makes the concept of achieving the American dream seem improbable.
