Example Of Essay On Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ is a fictional novel which surrounds characters who lived in West Egg town in the year 1922. The plot of the novel concentrates on the mysterious Gatsby, a young millionaire who was obsessed and had passion for Daisy Buchanan. The novel gives an account of the immorality and moral decay in the society during the time as most often characters used have extra-marital affairs. Although the novel is set in a simple manner, it addresses deeper issues in the society, contrary to its face value. Most analysts have concluded that this novel addresses the American dream in the early twenties and the Jazz Age. In a way, the novel addresses themes such as idealism, decadence, social upheaval, resistance to change and the excesses in the society. Through critical analyzing the character used and their behavior, one gets to understand that the novel encompasses more than a mere romantic scope. The events that unfold in the novel symbolize the 1920 era in America, more so the disintegration of the American dream. Material excesses and unprecedented prosperity were the norms of the day. As such, the novel is a critique of the 1920 historical era.
The setting of the novel is in the year 1920, after the First World War. The events that unfold in the novel, therefore, reflect how the American society behaved during this time. As per the novel, this period was characterized as one where the moral and social values were ignored, creating greed, overarching cynicism and the preference of people to pursue pleasure at the expense of others. As a rich man with the intention of impressing a mistress, Gatsby threw extravagant parties every Saturday. Such parties resulted in the corruption of the American dream where human beings developed morals that were corrupted. Humanity had lost its value since everybody’s intention was to collect as much as they could.
In the novel, Fitzgerald portrays how noble goals are ignored in preference to unrestrained desire for pleasure and money. This is consistent to the events that were taking place in America after the First World War. After the completion of the war, most of the young participants who took part grew intensely disillusioned. Their expectations of a better America were being thwarted by the selfishness of some leaders, creating an economic gap between the rich and the poor. Materialism was quickly being embraced. During this period, the morality of the nation seemed like a stuffy and empty hypocrisy. T stock market was on the rise after the war, leading to the increase in the national wealth which was sudden and sustained. Gatsby’s spending in the novel can be equated to the increase in the consumption and spending levels at the time in America, which was unprecedented.
The novel also addresses the social divide and discrimination that was witnessed in America during the early twenties. During this period, any person could make a fortune, regardless o their social background. Although this was the case, the American Aristocracy made it difficult for the entrants. Families with old wealth always disassociated themselves with the speculators and newly rich industrialists. Because of this, several groups emerged. The most notorious included the overly rich and the newly rich. The two groups did not share much I common, thanks to the difference in ideologies. This practice in the early twenties is portrayed in the novel. Social connections were determined by the wealth one had. The West Egg mainly comprised of the new rich who had recently made their fortunes. This group of people was prone to displaying their wealth. On the other hand, East Egg city mostly comprised of the upper class, characterized by rich men and women who had already established connections. This is enough to portray that class differences and divisions were very common during this time. The manner that people made wealth during the time is also questionable. For instance, the author portrays Gatsby as an illegal businessman who participates in an underworld kind of business so as to satisfy his massive demand for money. This coincided with the passing of the 18th Amendment in America whereby sale of alcohol was banned.
Apart from the economic viewpoint, the author positions the characters in such a way that he explains the social trends at the post world war I. Both Nick and Gatsby participated in the war. In the novel, the two exhibit their new-found wealth which they collected from the events of the war. The scramble for wealth in America during this period is also evidenced by the ambitious speculators who take part in Gatsby’s Saturday night parties. Socialization was dictated by wealth standards, making it very difficult for the middle class to associate with the rich men. East Egg and West Egg were creations of wealth. Whereas West Egg connotes the self-made rich who took the opportunity at the war-front, East Egg represented aristocracies that had already established. Most people engaged in illegal activities to obtain wealth, including activities such as bootlegging and organized crime. These are symbolized in the novel by the activities that Gatsby and Meyer Wolfshiem do.
Through Nick in chapter 9 of the novel, we get to learn about the American dream which was originally about individualism, discovery and pursuit of happiness. The novel’s depiction of the 1920s however is about relaxed social values and ways through which to make easy money. This is so common in the East Coast, corrupting the original dream. This can be compared to the events that take place in the novel. For instance, the dream of Gatsby to love Daisy was negatively affected and ruined because of the differences in their social statuses. To impress her, Gatsby resorts to make enough money through crime with the aim of impressing her. According to Nick, the ability to make symbols that are meaningful constitutes a core aspect of the American dream. This is shown in the novel by the way that the early Americans used their early ideals and values to invest in their new nation.
Fitzgerald’s ‘Great Gatsby’ is symbolic. Gatsby’s dream can be compared to the American dream during this era as the two share a lot of similarities. Through their dreams, Americans gave America meaning in a similar manner that Gatsby gives Daisy the lifestyle that she never deserved. Gatsby’s dream is not successful because it was unworthy. This was similar to the manner that the American dream was killed in the 1920s because of unworthiness of its object.
In several ways, the Great Gatsby is a critique to the post-world war era. The manner that the residents of West Egg city relate to those in East End city is a reflection of how the 1920s millionaires related to the country’s old aristocracy. The novel is a perfect analysis of the breakdown in differences in class I the modern economy which was based on one’s status. The author portrays the residents of West End (newly rich) as being ostentatious, vulgar and gaudy, lacking proper morals in the society. This can be explained using Gatsby’s character. For instance he lives in a big mansion, drives a Rolls Royce, wears a pink suit and acts in a manner that is arrogant This is totally different from what happens in East End (old aristocracy)where elegance, taste and grace were embraced. The two groups of people also have differences. For instance, dwellers of the East Coast are heartless. For instance, the Buchanans moved to a new house far away so as not to attend Gatsby’s funeral. This is not the case with the dwellers of West Egg. Gatsby stays outside Daisy’s window to ensure that she is not hurt by Tom. These differences are reminiscent of the American society in the early twenties where the wealth class often discriminated the poor in the society, leading to class differences.
The novel criticizes the post-war era (1920) in the United States of America. Following the war, restructuring of the American economy required people to be ambitious. However, what followed was an increase in class differences and discrimination. Social connections were formed depending on one’s position in the society in terms of wealth. The old aristocrats quickly took advantage of the prevailing economic conditions to assert their influence in the society. Those who did not have, on the other hand, were forced to engage in illegal activities to sustain themselves. Such criticism is essential in helping people understand the history of America.