social scene
Social Occasions Step 4c
aptestreview.flvs.net
Perhaps some of the most unforgettable descriptions and scenes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby occur at the great parties which Gatsby himself throws. By examining the parties, their invitees, host, happenings, and importance—the true significance of the work as a whole is revealed.
It is at a party where Nick Carraway, Fitzgerald’s narrator, first encounters Gatsby. After watching from his home as others journeyed to the gallant affairs held by the mysterious Gatsby, Nick finally secures an invitation. With this invitation comes a sense of self-importance and pride to Nick. He feels accepted. At the party, many people are pictured in their best clothes, dancing, drinking, cavorting about and gossiping. Here, Fitzgerald is commenting upon the rash abandon of the high society. Nick only feels accepted once he has been invited to partake in this higher lifestyle, but once there, the scenes he describes bely the waste and futility of the entire situation. The party-goers have no deeper aspirations than to drink and socialize and be merry. Although seemingly grateful to Gatsby for this diversion, the attendees gossip about his past, making querries as to the legality of his past and present employment and connections. Fitzgerald’s strongest foray against the emptiness of the 1920’s high life appears during this party scene. These people are not glitzy, secure, powerful, and worthy of idolatry. They are superficial, worrying about how they appear to others both physically and socially. They are lacking in direction and ambition, making no attempts to better themselves or the world, to set and achieve goals--they are hollow men. And with this tasteless depiction of the partiers, Fitzgerald sums up his feelings about 1920’s society life as a whole, lending a melancholic and wasted feel over the entirety of the novel. Also important about the party scene is its revelation about the two main characters—Nick
aptestreview.flvs.net
Perhaps some of the most unforgettable descriptions and scenes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby occur at the great parties which Gatsby himself throws. By examining the parties, their invitees, host, happenings, and importance—the true significance of the work as a whole is revealed.
It is at a party where Nick Carraway, Fitzgerald’s narrator, first encounters Gatsby. After watching from his home as others journeyed to the gallant affairs held by the mysterious Gatsby, Nick finally secures an invitation. With this invitation comes a sense of self-importance and pride to Nick. He feels accepted. At the party, many people are pictured in their best clothes, dancing, drinking, cavorting about and gossiping. Here, Fitzgerald is commenting upon the rash abandon of the high society. Nick only feels accepted once he has been invited to partake in this higher lifestyle, but once there, the scenes he describes bely the waste and futility of the entire situation. The party-goers have no deeper aspirations than to drink and socialize and be merry. Although seemingly grateful to Gatsby for this diversion, the attendees gossip about his past, making querries as to the legality of his past and present employment and connections. Fitzgerald’s strongest foray against the emptiness of the 1920’s high life appears during this party scene. These people are not glitzy, secure, powerful, and worthy of idolatry. They are superficial, worrying about how they appear to others both physically and socially. They are lacking in direction and ambition, making no attempts to better themselves or the world, to set and achieve goals--they are hollow men. And with this tasteless depiction of the partiers, Fitzgerald sums up his feelings about 1920’s society life as a whole, lending a melancholic and wasted feel over the entirety of the novel. Also important about the party scene is its revelation about the two main characters—Nick