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American Society and The Great Gatsby

Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is commonly considered a masterpiece of modern literature. Published in 1925 with a plot mostly occurring in the Long Island sectors of East Egg and West Egg in 1922, the novel is commonly associated with the society of post-war America. During the "Roaring Twenties,” American civilization based itself upon materialism, rather than ethical principles. The 1920s are represented as having an imbalance between excess, recklessness, and bliss and the Protestant sense of morality that had bounded Americans in decades past; this resulted in crime, promiscuity, and even murder. The novel vividly deals with the social disparity that had arisen in American society. The Great Gatsby commentates an era of excess and indulgence, reflecting the cultural atmosphere of the 1920s.

The single group targeted most by Fitzgerald’s novel is the wealthy. The wealthy were separated into two unique groups: the “new rich” and the “old rich.” Despite their similarity in both having wealth, each group is quite distinguished in their own culture. The “old rich,” such as Tom Buchannan and Jordan Baker, were born into their wealth. Their money was generational, having been passed down to them through their ancestors. In the novel, these people do not require employment and use their wealth to occupy their time entertaining themselves with anything they desire. These people (including Tom, Daisy, and Jordan) are the most elitist of all social groups, even imposing their chauvinism upon other people of wealth, the “new rich” (including Gatsby). All their principles on judging others are based on where one acquired their wealth, not simply how much money one possessed. The fact that people, such as Gatsby, had recently gained such prosperity was reason enough for the “old rich” to dislike them. By their logic, the “new rich” had no way of gaining the refinement that they themselves had naturally.

This belief was truly justified; the “new rich” had no way of jumping to the higher echelon. Ironically, this may have benefited the “new rich,” as the “old rich” were an unpleasant group. They were hypercritical and superficial, incapable of sensing the true being of others (as well as themselves). The purpose of their lives was to continue their wealth. Unfortunately, the “new rich” weren’t significantly better. This group is incarnated by the attendees of Gatsby’s parties. Vice dominates their lifestyles, indulging themselves with alcohol and food. They also lack a sense of loyalty or gratitude, abandoning Gatsby after his death. As the “new rich” had previously been of a lower social status, their deficiency of compassion towards the outside world is disturbing. All of this was due to their spontaneous, blithe existences.

Nick’s beginning statements in the story attempt to establish him as respectable and dependable. His motives for doing this are unknown until later in the novel when the traits of the other characters Nick cooperates with are introduced. Very early in the book the character of Tom Buchannan is introduced as a shameless adulterer, which provides the contrast with Nick. This, along with the early conversations of the supposed ideals of living in East Egg, institutes the “old rich” as a people generally out of touch with reality. They are represented as insensitive people who clearly are apathetic of other people, especially people of a lower class.

The people of The Great Gatsby are continuously shown to be full of excess. After the Buchanans’ dinner party, each of the seven deadly sins is personified in one way or another. Even Nick is shown to be susceptible to sin. While in times past, vice is a symbol of decline within a society, the people of West Egg and East Egg are shown to be at the pinnacle of their community. While the characters of the novel are dominated by the seven deadly sins, their counterparts, the seven holy virtues, are nearly absent. However, one of the holy virtues, hope, is extremely prominent in one character: Gatsby. Unfortunately, even the strength of Gatsby’s hope is insignificant in preventing his demise.

Despite numerous actions of poor integrity throughout the novel, the most despicable actions arise near the story’s end. Daisy reveals her true identity when she unashamedly runs down Myrtle. Gatsby is the victim of another man’s wrath when he is shot by Wilson (with Tom, by association, being partially responsible). The most disturbing of the acts of disregard that occurs in the story is the lack of mourners at Gatsby's funeral. While so many had fixated themselves upon being associated with Gatsby during his life, he became useless in death; their interests were diverted elsewhere, indubitably towards something that could further increase what they were most obsessed with, their own social prestige. Nick, of course, was the exception.

Just as Fitzgerald characterizes the wealthy, he dedicates part of his novel towards exemplifying those without such wealth. Although Nick comes from a wealthy family, he is a class apart from the likes of Gatsby or Tom. Ultimately, Nick proves to hold some sense of honor and principle, which is more than can be said of Tom. The character of Myrtle is separate altogether from the “new rich” and “old rich,” being of the middle class. She spends her life trying to get out of the valley of ashes, obsessed with climbing higher into the social hierarchy. Her affair with the upper class Tom burdens her with no moral debts, as it provides her the social condition she desires. Unfortunately for Myrtle, she is destined to be kept below Tom’s elite circle. Myrtle is just an object of gratification for Tom, making him feel more satisfied about himself by proving to himself that others aspire to his social rank.

The Great Gatsby reflects the social environment of the 1920s, one of great excess and a lack of the Protestant value system that had governed American society in decades past. Fitzgerald’s novel serves as a caveat to the American people, warning them of the course society was moving in. For its cunning commentary on American society and a system of morals gone awry, The Great Gatsby is fairly considered a masterwork of American literature.

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