Social Norms in Fitzgerald´s The Great Gatsby - 649 Words

In The Great Gatsby, chapters five and six, provide crucial insights about the title character, Gatsby, and about the social norms of American society during the roaring twenties. Fitzgerald finally reveals Gatsby’s past and his tenacious, single minded nature when chasing his dreams, whether that entails becoming an entirely different person or pursuing Daisy. Chapter six demonstrates the longstanding and hostile division between â€Å"old money† and â€Å"new money,† which is induced mainly by the haughty attitude the aristocrats hold towards the newly rich. Jay Gatsby is but a fake persona fabricated by James Gatz, a farm boy born of â€Å"shiftless and unsuccessful† parents. Even from the start, James was unable to accept his poor lot in life, firm in his belief that he had a higher calling, a destiny. His denial of his parents, and their poverty, was so absolute, and his drive to succeed so powerful, he managed to will Jay Gatsby into existence. The destitute boy from North Dakota built a fortune that surpassed even that of the elites. His success in becoming Gatsby and amassing great wealth, despite his humble beginnings, demonstrates his ingenuity and conviction as well as reveal a vital flaw in his personality: fixation. This aspect to his character becomes more evident in his quest for Daisy. Although nearly five years have passed since his separation with Daisy and she is already married now, he still continues to pursue her with the same zeal and passion as he did when theyShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis Of The Great Gatsby 1673 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of The Great Gatsby Dreams are a compelling force in people’s lives. They are what propel them forward each and every day in an effort to reach something better. The American Dream has been sought after by millions all over the world for hundreds of years. This country was founded on the belief that anyone could achieve their dreams. However, in the 1920s these hopes and aspirations began to splinter until they ultimately shattered. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolismRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1681 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920’s, a pre-depression age of jazz and modernism, were a retreat from traditional ideas and values. On the east coast of New York, the setting of Fitzgerald’s â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, Fitzgerald shows an economic disparity in Long Island. The different â€Å"eggs†or rich neighbourhoods on Long Island, sit on either side of a â€Å"Valley of Ashes†. That being the poor neighbourhood between the â€Å"Old Money† and â€Å"New Money†. Besides the warring social classes, Fitzgerald touches on another important, typicallyRead MoreHonor In The Great Gatsby Analysis935 Words   |  4 Pagespoint of view, and lifestyle that the person had. The Great Gatsby is a love story between a poor boy who works to get rich and a girl who was born into money attempting to reunite after five years. Code of Honor is about a boy named Kamran who tries to prove his brother innocent of him being accused of taking part in horrible crimes of Al Qaeda. Based on the conditions of the lives of the characters in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Code of Honor by Alan Gratz, honor is having a highRead MoreIdentifying And Surveying F. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1675 Words   |  7 PagesWhilst analysing and surveying F. Scott Fitzgerald s fulfilling and creative way of writing, I present to you today the body of work in the context of the writers time, discussing an d paying attention to the social, historical, cultural and political discourses within the text. F.Scott Fitzgerald constructs a variety of truths throughout the novel, the two truths that where clearly noticeable where â€Å"The American dream† and â€Å"Old and New Money† which greatly supported the normalities of the era, theseRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1448 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald chronicles the life of Jay Gatsby, a self-made man, narrated by a social outsider named Nick Carraway. The story takes place in New York during the Roaring Twenties. In this decade, American’s lives were characterized by a fascination with new technology, great wealth, and an increased emphasis on social activities and leisure. In addition, many Americans engaged in binge drinking despite Prohibition laws which made the consumption of alcohol illegal. In orderRead MoreThe American Dream in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitz gerald1082 Words   |  5 PagesThe 1920’s was a time of great change to both the country lived in as well as the goals and ambitions that were sought after by the average person. During this time, priorities shifted from family and religion to success and spontaneous living. The American dream, itself, changed into a self centered and ongoing personal goal that was the leading priority in most people’s lives. This new age of carelessness and naivety encompasses much of what this earlier period is remembered for. In additionRead MoreEssay on Gatsby and Hamilton.1294 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel, The Great Gatsby seeks to highlight the disillusionment of the â€Å"American dream.† Fitzgerald voice’s his disenchantment with the whirlwind pace of the post war jazz age. A decade later many art movements attached to unrest with modern American ideals. Pop arts forefather, Richard Hamilton, capitalized on this idea through his artwork as seen in Hamiltonâ⠂¬â„¢s most enduring piece, Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing? (1956). Both Hamilton and Fitzgerald mock the modernRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1745 Words   |  7 PagesThe great Gatsby was written in 1925 by Scott Fitzgerald. Throughout the story a prominent theme presented is social class. Three types of social class that were portrayed were the lower - middle class, the lower - upper class, and the upper - upper class. These social classes were not only depicted through characters and social norms but also locations. Such as the East egg, West Egg, and the Valley of the Ashes. East Egg is the upper - upper class, West Egg represents the lower - upper class, andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby1279 Words   |  6 Pagesdeep desire for Fitzgerald’s wealth, fame, money and material luxury. Both Gatsby and Fitzgerald idolize wealth and luxury and at last fell in love with a beautiful woman when they stopped at a military c amp in the South. After, author fell in love with Zelda; he tried to convince her by attending reckless Saturday parties and wanted to win Zelda’s love by writing to earn money. In the novel, same thing happened with Gatsby, he devoted himself to acquire both name and fame and did his best to winRead MoreThe Grand Illusion in The Great Gatsby Essay811 Words   |  4 Pagescan truly capture, but only smoke trapped in the palm of a hand. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s lavish parties, characterized by music, dancing, and illegal alcohol, are a representation of the corruption of society’s values, and are filled with guests only concerned with material things as they step further and further away from the moral values that once dictated the lives of those before them. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s parties to illustrate the â€Å"roaring† twenties as a time of