AP Lit Gatsby Summary Essay
Sophie Peirce
AP Literature
Mrs. Carver
March 4th, 2014
Ethnicity Through the Characters of The Great Gatsby
In “Ethnicity in The Great Gatsby, Peter Gregg Slater makes the argument that “a heightened awareness of ethnic differences does constitute a significant element in the book” (53). Slater explains how Tom, Nick, Gatsby and Wolfsheim’s own ethnicities and their reactions to certain people because of their ethnicity change the flow and meaning of the story. The character that supports Slater’s hypothesis the most in Tom Buchanan. Slater asserts that Tom’s stereotyping of certain ethnicities is “part of a haphazard search” for something to fill the void that is left “at the age of thirty when his sense of personal worth can no longer be sustained on the basis of physical prowess” (54). Slater also proclaims that the stereotypes and assumptions Tom is stating is nothing new or revolutionary for the 1920’s. Other characters, such as Nick and Gatsby, notice and comment on the ethnicity of others but not to the extent of “Tom’s paranoid like rantings” (54). Slater describes how Nick points out the ethnicity of other characters in his descriptions of them. However, Slater says that this is not always a negative thing. In this time period, it was not uncommon to point out ethnic differences. Nick’s awareness of ethnicity is the result of “a heightened consciousness of physical distinctions and mannerisms” (55). Slater also elaborates on Nick’s connection to Wolfsheim and how he has “the most complex development of ethnicity” (56). Nick’s impression of Wolfsheim is that he is “exotic and sinister” (56), a feeling that Slater states most readers in 1925 would not have gotten. However, because of his numerous stories the reader would have understood how dark and mysterious a person Wolfsheim can be. Slater asserts that the final character whose ethnicity greatly impacts the novel is Jay Gatsby himself. Slater states that in a sense, Gatsby is the true embodiment
AP Literature
Mrs. Carver
March 4th, 2014
Ethnicity Through the Characters of The Great Gatsby
In “Ethnicity in The Great Gatsby, Peter Gregg Slater makes the argument that “a heightened awareness of ethnic differences does constitute a significant element in the book” (53). Slater explains how Tom, Nick, Gatsby and Wolfsheim’s own ethnicities and their reactions to certain people because of their ethnicity change the flow and meaning of the story. The character that supports Slater’s hypothesis the most in Tom Buchanan. Slater asserts that Tom’s stereotyping of certain ethnicities is “part of a haphazard search” for something to fill the void that is left “at the age of thirty when his sense of personal worth can no longer be sustained on the basis of physical prowess” (54). Slater also proclaims that the stereotypes and assumptions Tom is stating is nothing new or revolutionary for the 1920’s. Other characters, such as Nick and Gatsby, notice and comment on the ethnicity of others but not to the extent of “Tom’s paranoid like rantings” (54). Slater describes how Nick points out the ethnicity of other characters in his descriptions of them. However, Slater says that this is not always a negative thing. In this time period, it was not uncommon to point out ethnic differences. Nick’s awareness of ethnicity is the result of “a heightened consciousness of physical distinctions and mannerisms” (55). Slater also elaborates on Nick’s connection to Wolfsheim and how he has “the most complex development of ethnicity” (56). Nick’s impression of Wolfsheim is that he is “exotic and sinister” (56), a feeling that Slater states most readers in 1925 would not have gotten. However, because of his numerous stories the reader would have understood how dark and mysterious a person Wolfsheim can be. Slater asserts that the final character whose ethnicity greatly impacts the novel is Jay Gatsby himself. Slater states that in a sense, Gatsby is the true embodiment
Cited: Slater, Peter Gregg. "Ethnicity in The Great Gatsby." Twentieth Century Literature. 1st ed. Vol. 19. N.p.: Hofstra University, 1973. 53-62. Print.