The Great Gatsby Argument Essay
Viren Kumar
Mrs. Parato
AP Language and Composition
March 2, 2013
Society’s Shadow Goals, objectives, targets, and ambitions are incentives that drive one to emerge from their comfort zone. Each individual, rich or poor, isolated or active, normal or abnormal, has a way to communicate with others and act in society based on personality. Most people want to be accepted by others to fit into society and be "normal". There is always one person who has a different perspective than everyone else's and is uniquely considered an "outcast". In the novel, The Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays Jay Gatsby as an isolationist that is compelled to play ambiguous roles in society to obtain the green light across the channel, which in effect causes Gatsby to be placed in a nerve-racking situation. Society is a big influence on Gatsby and his actions. He is first introduced by Miss Baker. “[Nick] decided to call to him. Miss Baker had mentioned him at dinner, and that would do for an introduction” (Fitzgerald 20). Nick Caraway is a parallel with society because he is influenced by the thoughts and ideas of others that structure society. Since Miss Baker mentions Gatsby over dinner, Gatsby is seen as an interesting topic that needs to be explored. Jay, being an isolationist that he is, tries to hide himself from society by displaying motions hinting to people like Nick: “But [Nick] didn’t call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone” (20). Gatsby makes a “sudden intimation”, and it seems that Gatsby knows there is someone watching him and observing his every action, and in attempts to isolate himself and avoid being “[called] out to”, he makes a subtle allusion to the fact he wants to be left to himself (20). Thus society forces Gatsby to make the movement he makes by gossip and communication. Society’s observations in this passage will show to define many of Gatsby’s actions as the novel progresses. People
Mrs. Parato
AP Language and Composition
March 2, 2013
Society’s Shadow Goals, objectives, targets, and ambitions are incentives that drive one to emerge from their comfort zone. Each individual, rich or poor, isolated or active, normal or abnormal, has a way to communicate with others and act in society based on personality. Most people want to be accepted by others to fit into society and be "normal". There is always one person who has a different perspective than everyone else's and is uniquely considered an "outcast". In the novel, The Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays Jay Gatsby as an isolationist that is compelled to play ambiguous roles in society to obtain the green light across the channel, which in effect causes Gatsby to be placed in a nerve-racking situation. Society is a big influence on Gatsby and his actions. He is first introduced by Miss Baker. “[Nick] decided to call to him. Miss Baker had mentioned him at dinner, and that would do for an introduction” (Fitzgerald 20). Nick Caraway is a parallel with society because he is influenced by the thoughts and ideas of others that structure society. Since Miss Baker mentions Gatsby over dinner, Gatsby is seen as an interesting topic that needs to be explored. Jay, being an isolationist that he is, tries to hide himself from society by displaying motions hinting to people like Nick: “But [Nick] didn’t call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone” (20). Gatsby makes a “sudden intimation”, and it seems that Gatsby knows there is someone watching him and observing his every action, and in attempts to isolate himself and avoid being “[called] out to”, he makes a subtle allusion to the fact he wants to be left to himself (20). Thus society forces Gatsby to make the movement he makes by gossip and communication. Society’s observations in this passage will show to define many of Gatsby’s actions as the novel progresses. People