Psychoanalytic Theory And The Great Gatsby

After learning about an author and their life, a reader of their work can identify whether the piece embodies the author or their life experiences. The second view of the psychoanalytical theory can be applied to The Great Gatsby, in which it states that the text and author are related. The Great Gatsby is one of these works, since much of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life and experiences can be seen through the plot and the nature of specific characters. Through the narrator of the story, Nick, F. Scott Fitzgerald presents his opinions and sympathies towards and about specific people. By understanding Fitzgerald, his life, and opinions, the judgement can be made that The Great Gatsby supports the second view of the psychoanalytical theory. The
There were two types of social classes: the lower class and the upper class. The epitome of the American Dream was to achieve status in the upper class and to have a lavish, extravagant, and wealthy life. In The Great Gatsby, readers are given more exposure to the upper class than the lower class, however, that’s due to the fact that Fitzgerald himself achieved a status in the upper class. The novel is a way of exposing the truths about this class and to show what is behind all the glamour. Jay Gatsby became part of the upper class from hard work and determination to become richer, since that was the only quality he was lacking for Daisy. He throws extravagant parties throughout the novel, to show his wealth and luxury, in hopes to lure Daisy. This can be reconnected to Fitzgerald and how he attained wealth for Zelda and he took on the luxurious lifestyle for her, essentially. Fitzgerald also displays Daisy to be of the same nature of his wife. Daisy married Tom because he was rich, then went back for Gatsby once he achieved wealth. Zelda did the same. She married Fitzgerald once he achieved wealth, but before she had her eye out for other men. Tom’s and Daisy’s infidelities directly relate to Zelda and Fitzgerald because allegedly both of them cheated on each other. Fitzgerald and Gatsby are alike many ways, but the one similarity that stands out the most, was their quest for their “one” and
This is ironic in a way because there are not many similarities between Nick and Fitzgerald. Even though Nick is part of the lavish lifestyle and associates with upper class people, he is quite different. He cannot be described as indulgent or excessive. Nick, being the narrator, presents the plot in a very real and raw way; he shows the reality behind the glamour. Because Fitzgerald did write the novel, it is possible to say that in the end Fitzgerald probably realized the reality of his world and how it wasn’t as glamourous as he thought. Through presenting the characters in an authentic and honest way, he indirectly exposes himself, his wife, and all people of that lifestyle who believed wealth could achieve anything. Fitzgerald presents Nick to be Gatsby’s friend, because while he may be exposing everyone and everything in the story, he displays most of himself in Gatsby, and Nick being his friend is to show that Gatsby isn’t really a bad person. Nick is the character that shows readers the rationale behind Gatsby’s actions, and Fitzgerald may have been trying to show the struggles he went through just like Gatsby did. Both Gatsby’s and Fitzgerald’s mission for wealth brought them into and lifestyle that changed everything about themselves more for the worse than better. Fitzgerald presents the sympathy he has for himself through Nick for Gatsby. “They're a rotten crowd. You're worth