Theme Of Appearances In The Great Gatsby

With the many layers that society has, the most outer shell, appearances, serves as a camouflage to the outside world. Appearances can work as a superficial indicator of status and wellbeing. However, as deceiving as they can be, when looked at a different angle their true nature can be revealed. F.Scott Fitzgerald delves into this idea through the eyes of Nick Carraway, a New York bondsman surrounded by all the thrill and glamour of the roaring 20s. As he attends a party at his millionaire neighbor Jay Gatsby’s mansion, he watches as it goes from something of allure and extravagance, to a chaotic and turbulent scene. By describing the setting of the party, the food of the affair, and the behavior of the socialites in attendance, Fitzgerald undermines the aristocrats’

Fitzgerald describes the party’s environment as bright and luxurious, yet as it moves deeper into the night, the setting changes to reveal its emptiness and havoc. The party is initially described as so lavish that the lights from Gatsby’s home only” grow brighter as the Earth lurches away from the sun” and the opulent decor of the scene is coupled with “yellow cocktail music.” With the image of an increasingly bright setting, it can be assumed that as the lights grow brighter, so does the lives of the attendees as they have more fun while the night progresses. Similarly, the color yellow is often associated with elation and joy, and can be an indicator of happiness. As the party is filled with music described as yellow and jovial, it reflects on the alluring setting which draws out the happiness of its guests. Nevertheless, after everyone leaves the party, “a sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows of the great doors.” The void that is left in Gatsby’s mansion reveals that the parties are nothing but meaningless fun and serve only as the guests’ escape. The emptiness from the windows parallels the guests at the