Next to being a source of entertainment, novels also offer insights into the culture and the values of the affected society, thereby stimulating critical thinking in the reader about certain features. In the case of "The Great Gatsby", the features that call attention are, amongst others, the relationships between the individual characters in relation to their social background, which, apparently, seems to be very important during this era. Therefore, the purpose of the following paper is to examine the role of social status, connected with wealth, prestige, and reputation, during the 1920s in America.
In order to provide an overview of the time in which the story of "The Great Gatsby" takes place, the first chapter will give a brief introduction about politics, culture, the economy and the changes of the 1920s. Afterwards, the representation of class in the novel will be analyzed, thereby having a look at the relationships between the different characters, and, additionally, at the different settings that appear in the plot and serve as a representation of social status and wealth. Another part of the analysis of the occurrence of social status in the novel is the use of symbolism. In examining the symbols, the meaning of the first lines of the novel, consisting of a poem, as well as the green light that appears various times in the story, will be taken into account. The last part of the paper consists of several quotes taken from the novel, which represent both the self-made millionaires of the 1920s and the old aristocratic families of New York´s society. The importance of social background and status in the society and the resulting impacts on the characters will thereby be a central theme.
Table of Contents
1. Background on the 1920s
1.1. Politics, Culture, and Economy
1.2. Changes of the Decade
1.3. The Gatsby Image
2. Representation of Class in The Great Gatsby
2.1. Relationships
2.2. The Different Settings as a Representation of Social Status and Wealth
2.3. Symbols in the Novel
3. Quotes on Race and Social Status
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this thesis is to examine the role of social status, prestige, and reputation within the context of 1920s America, using F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" as a literary case study. The work explores the tension between inherited aristocracy and self-made wealth, effectively demonstrating how social background remains an insurmountable barrier for individuals attempting to transcend their class origins.
- The cultural, political, and economic landscape of the "Roaring Twenties."
- Class stratification represented through fictional relationships and settings.
- The analysis of symbolic elements, such as the green light, as indicators of disillusionment.
- The intersection of race, social background, and moral apathy among the upper class.
- The tragic impossibility of achieving the "American Dream" across rigid class divides.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3. Symbols in the Novel
While the different settings of the story can be seen as a representation of the different social classes and of their opposing and sometimes conflicting values, there are other symbols that appear in the story, connected to class and social status. The first one appears already in the first lines of the novel, even before the actual story begins:
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry ‘Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!’ (Fitzgerald 3)
This short poem from Thomas Parke D´Invilliers, a character of the novel This Side of Paradise, another of Fitzgerald’s works, already indicates one of the themes of the story, which is the belief that a man should do everything in his power in order to win the heart of his beloved woman, strongly connected to materialism and superficiality. In the novel, this belief is strongly carried out by Gatsby, who acquires enormous wealth and tries everything in order to achieve his lifelong goal: to win the heart of the upper-class woman Daisy.
Summary of Chapters
1. Background on the 1920s: This chapter contextualizes the American culture of the 1920s, highlighting the economic boom, social transformations, and the emergence of the "Gatsby image" as a reflection of the era.
2. Representation of Class in The Great Gatsby: This section analyzes how the novel portrays class friction, examining character relationships, geographical settings, and symbols to illustrate the dominance of social status.
3. Quotes on Race and Social Status: This chapter provides textual evidence from the novel, focusing on how Tom Buchanan’s prejudices and character behaviors highlight the insularity and elitism of the aristocracy.
Keywords
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Social Status, 1920s America, Class Stratification, American Dream, Symbolism, Green Light, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Wealth, Aristocracy, Race, Popular Culture, Prohibition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the significance of social status and class differences in 1920s America through an analysis of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby."
What are the primary thematic fields explored?
The work explores themes of wealth, the "American Dream," social mobility, gender dynamics, and racial prejudice as perceived by the upper class of the era.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how social background impacts the characters' lives and to analyze whether wealth alone is sufficient to overcome class-based exclusion.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The paper employs a literary analysis methodology, referencing socio-historical background information and critical interpretations of the text to evaluate the novel's themes.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body identifies the societal context of the 1920s, analyzes the representation of class via characters and settings, explores literary symbols, and presents textual evidence through key quotes.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include social stratification, 1920s cultural history, the American Dream, literary symbolism, and the conflict between old-money aristocracy and new-money wealth.
How does the author characterize the "Gatsby image"?
The "Gatsby image" refers to the era's glamour, decadence, and liberated morals, characterized by jazz music, luxury, and the aesthetic excess of the decade.
What function does the "green light" serve as a symbol?
The green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dream, representing both his deep love for Daisy and the hollow, morally decayed inaccessibility of the upper class.
Why are the geographical settings important in the novel?
Settings like West Egg, East Egg, and the Valley of Ashes act as representations of specific social classes, ranging from the newly rich to the marginalized poor and the established aristocracy.
What does the conclusion suggest about social mobility?
The conclusion suggests that social background is a fixed, influential factor; regardless of wealth acquisition, characters cannot fully transcend their origins in a society defined by rigid class hierarchies.
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- Alexandra Warter (Autor:in), 2020, The Role of Social Status during the 1920s in America. Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" as a Representative Literary Work, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1268550
