After analysing The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald I have come to the conclusion that all the characters, irrespective of their class, endure unhappiness. After researching multiple critics views on the rationale behind the characters intrinsic unhappiness, I found contradicting concepts about the American dream and its impact on the characters unhappiness and whether their social class also impacted on it. My three main critics are Lovisa Lindberg, Liamarie Snyder, and Akhmad Kusuma Wardhana. These three critics showed differing views on the unhappiness suffered by the characters in The Great Gatsby and whether this was influenced by their social class.
Akhmad Kusuma Wardhana states that The Great Gatsby is set in “... an artificial …show more content…
the dream that is only driven by the capitalism and materialism without initiated with the sense of belonging or caring of others will lead to destruction and failure…” (a translated quote.) This concept that dreams that are focused on materialistic goals will fail is what Akhmad Kusuma Wardhana believes results in Gatsby’s failure to obtain his dream and thus be truly happy, disregarding Gatsby’s desire for Daisy. Throughout the novel Gatsby is fixated on Daisy, deciding everything he does based on whether she will like it. In chapter five when Daisy first entered Gatsby’s house he behaved as though everything in his life was centred around Daisy and her opinion, he didn’t stop looking at her and “ ... revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes. Sometimes, too, he stared around at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real. Once he nearly toppled down a flight of stairs.” (chapter 5) His infatuation with Daisy sustained his dream through all the years they were apart. Although I disagree with Akhmad Kusuma Wardhanas opinion that Gatsby’s dream was driven by “capitalism and materialism” I do agree that his dream failed, leading to a feeling of unfulfillment and his
Akhmad Kusuma Wardhana states that The Great Gatsby is set in “... an artificial …show more content…
the dream that is only driven by the capitalism and materialism without initiated with the sense of belonging or caring of others will lead to destruction and failure…” (a translated quote.) This concept that dreams that are focused on materialistic goals will fail is what Akhmad Kusuma Wardhana believes results in Gatsby’s failure to obtain his dream and thus be truly happy, disregarding Gatsby’s desire for Daisy. Throughout the novel Gatsby is fixated on Daisy, deciding everything he does based on whether she will like it. In chapter five when Daisy first entered Gatsby’s house he behaved as though everything in his life was centred around Daisy and her opinion, he didn’t stop looking at her and “ ... revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes. Sometimes, too, he stared around at his possessions in a dazed way, as though in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real. Once he nearly toppled down a flight of stairs.” (chapter 5) His infatuation with Daisy sustained his dream through all the years they were apart. Although I disagree with Akhmad Kusuma Wardhanas opinion that Gatsby’s dream was driven by “capitalism and materialism” I do agree that his dream failed, leading to a feeling of unfulfillment and his