The Great Gatsby Queer Theory Analysis

Frances Pool-Crane

C 3/4 English II

11 January 2017

Queer Theory and The Great Gatsby "Keep your hands off the lever" snapped the elevator boy. "I'll beg your pardon," said Mr. McKee with dignity, "I didn't know I was touching it". "All right," I agreed ... I was standing beside the bed and he was between the sheets." (Fitzgerald 38). This strange scene, narrated by Nick Carraway of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one that has been interpreted in array of ways. But above all, through the lens of queer theory, the scene is indicative of Nick's non-heterosexuality. Once queer theory is applied to the whole novel, an entire new realm of possibilities emerge after characters are no longer expected to be heterosexual by default. Above all, one possibility prevails: through the lens of queer theory, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald uses internal monologue to show that Nick is in love with Gatsby. Firstly, through the analysis of Nick through queer theory, the very beginning of the novel starts to give the reader hints towards Nick's attraction to Gatsby. Looking back on him after his death, Nick presents Gatsby as completely

However, through the lens of queer theory, even from the first few pages, the reader gets a sense of Nick seeing Gatsby as above all others, which, through the novel, progresses into Nick being in love with him. It is proven through multiple literary devices throughout the novel, however it is shown the most through Nick's internal monologue, both during and after Gatsby's life, which through the lens of queer theory, suggests that Nick is in love with him. Some argue that, had Fitzgerald intended it, it would have been clearer to the reader. However, considering the time and culture it was written in, could it have been made any more