Robert Frost, a contemporary of Francis Scott Fitzgerald, once said that “poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.“ In Fitzgerald's fabulous novel The Great Gatsby, published in 1925,
this seems to be the author's intention, when in a largely poetic tone he depicts life in the so-called “Roaring Twenties“. He took life by the throat and simultaneously pointed at social injustices that were accompanying the economic prosperity of his time. Fitzgerald's masterpiece primarily deals with the American upper class in the 1920s and demonstrates some of the internal processes of “high society." In the novel representatives of the upper class are engaged in acts of egotism, self-aggrandizement, and heartlessness. Their ubiquitous lack of empathy and understanding for the concerns of others, their downright brutality and self-centeredness pervades the whole storyline and gives prove of the author's rather pessimistic view of what was then going on in contemporary America. In the center of things stands the character after whom the novel is named: Jay Gatsby. He is a rather prototypical upstart American who within a short period of time has found ways and means to make a fortune. His wealth is derived mainly from bootlegging and other criminal activities that are left concealed to the reader. At any rate, Jay Gatsby comes in touch with the seducing realm of opulence at a very early stage when aged 17 he encounters destiny for the very first time. The event that would shape his whole life and leave an imprint on his mind is a chance meeting with Dan Cody, a rich mining tycoon, who cruises across Lake Superior in his yacht Tuolomee (named after the gold fields of Northern California1) some day. From this day on Gatsby's life will never be the same: the seed of aspiration has been planted in the young man's heart together with a deep conviction that in the future he might be able to display his wealth in a similarly urbane fashion as Cody did. He is willing to model his life on Cody's and maybe even outstrip him if given the opportunity. But wealth can hardly be obtained in North Dakota, where James Gatz (who changes his name after the fateful encounter with Dan Cody) grows up. In order for people to make a fortune and turn their lives into a success story as Benjamin Franklin or Abraham Lincoln did, they have no choice but to travel east. New York City is the place to go.
Table of Contents
0. The Deconstruction of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby
1. East Egg versus West Egg
2. Representatives of the upper class
2.1 Tom: Brutality unleashed
2.2 Daisy: Is she the real thing?
3. Gatsby's Dream
4. Idealism meets materialism
5. Technology: Cold steel and cold blood
6. Dismantling the American Dream
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the failure of the American Dream as depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby". The research explores how social stratification, materialistic obsession, and the corruption of moral values lead to the tragic downfall of the protagonist and reflect the disillusionment of the 1920s.
- The socioeconomic contrast between "old money" (East Egg) and "new money" (West Egg).
- The characterization of the upper class through moral bankruptcy and selfishness.
- Jay Gatsby’s obsessive pursuit of an idealized past and his failed attempt to replicate the American Dream.
- The symbolic role of technology and material objects in fostering social alienation.
- The destructive consequences of reconciling romantic idealism with cold-blooded materialism.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Tom: Brutality unleashed
We learn that Nick's relative is a subjugated wife and the mother of a little girl. Her husband is a brute who treats her disrespectfully and does not even abstain from physical violence. In the conversation with their guest Tom interrupts his wife repeatedly and blurts out aggressively again and again. It is with an effort that Scott Fitzgerald tries to convey to his readers that Tom's and Daisy's relationship has come to an end. Therefore, it does not take long until the neatly devised facade maintained at the beginning of Nick's short visit comes crashing down, revealing a tense situation within the little family. Daisy confides to her cousin that Tom did not even attend the birth of their daughter. She describes her condition at that time as “utterly abandoned.”9
This incident shows that Tom does not care much about other people's feelings. Due to his lack of morality he managed to cheat on his wife continuously without having the slightest qualms. Jordan Baker, a famous golfer and friend of the family, bluntly tells Nick that “Tom's got some woman in New York.”10, as if these news were common knowledge.
All in all Tom was very disfavorably crafted by Fitzgerald; his selfishness and carelessness are obvious from the very beginning and form a gross contrast to Gatsby's tenderness and thoughtfulness later in the novel (Gatsby being a so-called “gentleman hero”11). Considering the fact that he is such a reckless person, his angry talks about civilization take on a rather ironic dimension: Tom argues that “civilization's going to pieces” because the white race is infiltrated by people belonging to non-Nordic races. In his point of view, the Anglo-Protestant culture that has produced “science and art, and all that” (he doesn't get any clearer than that) is endangered from outside - an apprehension that to a certain extent is shared by Fitzgerald himself when in a letter to Edmund Wilson he complains about what he calls “the Negroid strain”12.
Summary of Chapters
0. The Deconstruction of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby: Introduces the novel's critique of the Roaring Twenties and frames Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth as a misguided attempt to reclaim his past with Daisy Buchanan.
1. East Egg versus West Egg: Analyzes the geological and ideological divide between the established aristocracy of East Egg and the "nouveau riche" of West Egg.
2. Representatives of the upper class: Examines Tom and Daisy Buchanan as embodiments of upper-class selfishness, brutality, and lack of empathy.
2.1 Tom: Brutality unleashed: Focuses on Tom Buchanan’s violent nature, moral indifference, and racist ideologies.
2.2 Daisy: Is she the real thing?: Explores Daisy’s role as an idealized "fairy tale" figure and her entrapment within a loveless marriage.
3. Gatsby's Dream: Details Gatsby’s obsessive motivation to gain status and wealth to win back Daisy, highlighting his tragic misinterpretation of reality.
4. Idealism meets materialism: Discusses the incompatibility of Gatsby's romantic ideals with the materialistic reality of his social environment.
5. Technology: Cold steel and cold blood: Investigates the negative symbolism of automobiles as status markers and instruments of destruction in the novel.
6. Dismantling the American Dream: Evaluates the novel's overall pessimistic critique of a society that has abandoned its foundational values for cynicism and greed.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the work as an elegy on a dehumanized civilization where the American Dream has lost its original moral purpose.
Keywords
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, American Dream, 1920s, Roaring Twenties, Social stratification, Materialism, Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Idealism, Critique of society, Class conflict, Moral decay, Dehumanization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the deconstruction of the American Dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby", analyzing how the pursuit of wealth and status leads to moral corruption and tragedy.
What are the primary themes explored?
Key themes include the divide between social classes, the emptiness of materialism, the destructive nature of obsession, and the contrast between romantic idealism and harsh reality.
What is the main objective of the author?
The objective is to demonstrate how Fitzgerald’s characters reflect the pessimistic societal shifts of the 1920s and the perversion of the American Dream into selfish materialism.
Which methodology is applied in this analysis?
The author uses literary analysis, examining character development, narrative symbolism, and historical context to interpret the ideological messages within the novel.
What does the main body cover?
The body chapters analyze specific character arcs (Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby), settings (East Egg vs. West Egg), and symbolic elements like the automobile to build a critical argument about the novel's themes.
What keywords characterize the work?
Core keywords include "The Great Gatsby," "American Dream," "Social stratification," "Materialism," and "Moral decay."
How does the author characterize Tom Buchanan's influence on the narrative?
The author portrays Tom as a catalyst for destruction, representing the heartlessness of the upper class whose actions ultimately lead to Gatsby's death.
In what way is Gatsby's dream described as tragic?
It is described as tragic because it is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of time and reality; Gatsby believes he can recreate a past that no longer exists through sheer material acquisition.
What significance is attributed to the automobile in the text?
The automobile is seen as both a status symbol and a dangerous machine that, in the hands of the careless, mirrors the recklessness of the social elite and leads to fatal consequences.
- Quote paper
- Tobias Rösch (Author), 2006, The deconstruction of the american dream in "The Great Gatsby", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/94327
