The Inequality of Illusions in The Great Gatsby
“Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest.” So declares Nick, the narrator of F. Scott Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby”. Gatsby’s desire for idealized love is the “it” that preys on him. The ‘foul dust in the wake of his dreams’ leads him to believe that he can only attain Daisy through money and status, so he makes it his mission to become rich and upper-class. In fact, he creates an entire persona that seems to embody the essence of wealth and power. He is so desperate to attain this persona that he resorts to gaining his money illegally. But eventually, his charismatic …show more content…
Illusions are something seductive and motivating; in Fitzgerald’s world, they give life purpose. In fact, it is inconsequential if they cause ignorance as long as the ignorance is blissful. But these illusions are merely bubbles that are fragile and can easily be popped through contact with reality. Fitzgerald believes, “That’s the whole burden of this novel — the loss of those illusions that give such color to the world so that you don’t care whether things are true or false as long as they partake of the magical glory.” The more that one continues to cling to these charades, the more one they are enchanted, but once these illusions are uncovered by others and one refuses to accept that they are lies, they lead to disastrous circumstances for those who do not have enough soap to blow more bubbles. Eventually, these circumstances uncover true filth. So although illusions are necessary and can give hope, the detachment from reality that results from them can cause you to ignore the perils surrounding you and render you …show more content…
On one hand, West Egg and East Egg are influential places whose inhabitants throw parties and live luxurious lifestyles. But at the heart of these places lies the Valley of Ashes a place that represents the burst bubble of illusions. There lie “ash-grey men [who] swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud which screens their obscure operations from your sight. ” This is the reality of the world, where workers need to work diligently under horrible conditions to survive, where there can be sheer hopelessness and imprisonment. The reality is that, because such a place exists, the Eggs can hold people who act untainted and exemplify their nobility; they capitalize on the filth in the Valley of Ashes. All the dirty work and shady deals do not need to take place in the Eggs but can take place in the Valley of Ashes. For example, when Gatsby gets caught by the policeman, he can take advantage of his status and by “do[ing] the commissioner a favor once”, Gatsby can escape the Valley of Ashes without a ticket. In a way, this portrays how the East and West Eggs are merely illusions. Life needs more than just parties and fun. Only through the exploitation of the Valley of Ashes and its residents, can people advance to this illusionary
“Gatsby turned out all right at the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest.” So declares Nick, the narrator of F. Scott Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby”. Gatsby’s desire for idealized love is the “it” that preys on him. The ‘foul dust in the wake of his dreams’ leads him to believe that he can only attain Daisy through money and status, so he makes it his mission to become rich and upper-class. In fact, he creates an entire persona that seems to embody the essence of wealth and power. He is so desperate to attain this persona that he resorts to gaining his money illegally. But eventually, his charismatic …show more content…
Illusions are something seductive and motivating; in Fitzgerald’s world, they give life purpose. In fact, it is inconsequential if they cause ignorance as long as the ignorance is blissful. But these illusions are merely bubbles that are fragile and can easily be popped through contact with reality. Fitzgerald believes, “That’s the whole burden of this novel — the loss of those illusions that give such color to the world so that you don’t care whether things are true or false as long as they partake of the magical glory.” The more that one continues to cling to these charades, the more one they are enchanted, but once these illusions are uncovered by others and one refuses to accept that they are lies, they lead to disastrous circumstances for those who do not have enough soap to blow more bubbles. Eventually, these circumstances uncover true filth. So although illusions are necessary and can give hope, the detachment from reality that results from them can cause you to ignore the perils surrounding you and render you …show more content…
On one hand, West Egg and East Egg are influential places whose inhabitants throw parties and live luxurious lifestyles. But at the heart of these places lies the Valley of Ashes a place that represents the burst bubble of illusions. There lie “ash-grey men [who] swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud which screens their obscure operations from your sight. ” This is the reality of the world, where workers need to work diligently under horrible conditions to survive, where there can be sheer hopelessness and imprisonment. The reality is that, because such a place exists, the Eggs can hold people who act untainted and exemplify their nobility; they capitalize on the filth in the Valley of Ashes. All the dirty work and shady deals do not need to take place in the Eggs but can take place in the Valley of Ashes. For example, when Gatsby gets caught by the policeman, he can take advantage of his status and by “do[ing] the commissioner a favor once”, Gatsby can escape the Valley of Ashes without a ticket. In a way, this portrays how the East and West Eggs are merely illusions. Life needs more than just parties and fun. Only through the exploitation of the Valley of Ashes and its residents, can people advance to this illusionary