Superficiality In The Great Gatsby
During the 1920s, materialistic mentalities were alarmingly evident throughout urban areas, such as New York City. However, in most cases, the reason beneath the superficiality was the ever-present American Dream that so many tried to achieve. In Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” the character after which the book was named, Jay Gatsby, helps reveal what the author felt about this turbulent society encaptured by the widely acclaimed novel. Furthermore, both Gatsby’s strengths and weaknesses express the contradictions between American dreams and reality and how disillusioned society was in the ‘20s. Several qualities found in Gatsby’s character are admirable and help illuminate the desire to achieve the American Dream, or the dream that hard
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In fact, the latter may also be representative of the depression that loomed over the people of the 1920s era. Moreover, Fitzgerald provides a contradiction to the American Dream by illuminating these weaknesses, and thus, a deeper understanding of the society during this time. Perhaps Gatsby’s most significant weakness his unrealistic expectations to repeat the past. There are several examples that encompass this major flaw, such as his denial that Daisy loved Tom when he says, “‘I don’t think she ever loved him … You must remember, old sport, she was very excited this afternoon … the result was she hardly knew what she was saying.’” (152) Clearly, Gatsby’s hopefulness and determination prevents him from accepting the fact that Daisy does indeed care about Tom, perhaps as much as she once cared about Gatsby. Another example of this flaw is when he blatantly states how he sees the world in response to Nick’s suggestion of not asking too much of Daisy, “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” (110) Here, it is evident that Gatsby is not capable of seeing the major pitfalls in his plan to win Daisy’s heart yet again. Equivalently, many disillusioned people in Fitzgerald’s society were blind to the limits of the complete American Dream. Some became so obsessed with this preconceived notion that they lost their grip on reality,
In fact, the latter may also be representative of the depression that loomed over the people of the 1920s era. Moreover, Fitzgerald provides a contradiction to the American Dream by illuminating these weaknesses, and thus, a deeper understanding of the society during this time. Perhaps Gatsby’s most significant weakness his unrealistic expectations to repeat the past. There are several examples that encompass this major flaw, such as his denial that Daisy loved Tom when he says, “‘I don’t think she ever loved him … You must remember, old sport, she was very excited this afternoon … the result was she hardly knew what she was saying.’” (152) Clearly, Gatsby’s hopefulness and determination prevents him from accepting the fact that Daisy does indeed care about Tom, perhaps as much as she once cared about Gatsby. Another example of this flaw is when he blatantly states how he sees the world in response to Nick’s suggestion of not asking too much of Daisy, “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” (110) Here, it is evident that Gatsby is not capable of seeing the major pitfalls in his plan to win Daisy’s heart yet again. Equivalently, many disillusioned people in Fitzgerald’s society were blind to the limits of the complete American Dream. Some became so obsessed with this preconceived notion that they lost their grip on reality,