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The Great Gatsby Dynamic Analysis

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Recommended: Culture in 1920s america

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 …show more content…

Eckleburg, the blue-eyed, yellow spectacled man on the billboard. The dynamic is again established through color symbolism with Dr. Eckleburg and diction connoting biblical/religious connections to display power. T.J. Eckleburg is first established as the owner through the color symbolism yellow spectacles, which is implied to be the color of the rich, wealth and gold, as mentioned by Zhang: “Doctor T. J. Eckleburg’s enormous spectacles are yellow too. All these yellow and golden things indicate that the Jazz Age is an age where everyone shows great worship of money and where the materialism is so fashionable that even God cannot avoid its influence.” (5) The yellow spectacles of T.J. Eckleburg serve as a reminder of the wealthy to those living in the Valley of Ashes of the people in power (the rich). Another event that strengthens the connection between T.J. Eckleburg and the wealthy is Tom’s exchange with the man on the billboard: “Terrible place, isn 't it," said Tom, exchanging a frown with Doctor Eckleburg.” (26) The small exchange establishes a friendly, if not, the associate-like connection between the two, implying that they are from the same social background. Furthermore, residents of the Valley of Ashes also seem to have embraced this notion. When speaking about his wife’s death, George says that the murderer will not go unpunished, saying: “You may fool me, but you can 't fool God! '" Standing behind him, Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, which had just emerged, pale and enormous, from the dissolving night. "God sees everything," repeated Wilson.” (159) George equates Dr. Eckleburg to God, showcasing the ultimate resignation of power by the poor to the rich. The direct use of the word God rather than another powerful being give Dr. Eckleburg a feeling of unlimited power and a feeling of omnipotence and

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