Masculinity In The Great Gatsby

Superior Essays
Glitz and glamour were used to describe the energetic age of the 1920s in American society. By creating a fantasy world where some of the most influential people have an excessive amount of money, The Great Gatsby leads many to think that the Jazz Age was anything but entertaining. In history, the time period was full of financial benefits and new roles for genders. It is remembered by economic prosperity, advances in technology and culture, and changing social roles. Men came home from the war, while women were getting more freedoms outside the home. Dancing and partying was popular, even though prohibition was passed. F. Scott Fitzgerald takes lavish scenes from this time period and turns them into a series of scandalous events, in which each character watches the consequences of their actions; the novel shows an eye opening perspective of how money can corrupt a person. Characters and objects are brought to life through the use of vivid description of colors providing deeper meaning. Symbols and social classes present throughout The Great Gatsby represent the exploitation of wealth during the 1920s. Vibrant, deadly, deceiving, and innocent represent words that associate with colors throughout the downfall of Gatsby. Fitzgerald draws attention to "the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that 's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning—" (Fitzgerald 180). This quote refers to the hue of green that compels each of the characters to have hope for an ecstatic different ending. Gatsby is attempting to restore his timeworn relationship with Daisy that has long been unsuccessful, even though he neglects to recognize that because he is fixated by the promise of the green light. Bringing false optimism to Gatsby is exactly what the green light accomplishes; this alludes to the fact that in some situations hope is not a reality. The future seems to symbolize Gatsby’s original dream and hope, his ceaseless pursuit of his dream, and the corruption of his dream and life. By including the green light that burns all night three times, Fitzgerald draws attention to Gatsby wanting Daisy, who appears majestic but puts on a façade for all to see. In the same way green is related to Gatsby, Daisy can be described using the color white. The seemingly innocent Daisy is associated with the color white, but it masks her corruption. During the first scene to meet Nick and Gatsby, she wears a white dress. Viewing from the outside, Daisy appears as pure, virtuous, and noble, but the hue of white has a hidden meaning. However, white symbolizes emptiness, vacuity, superficiality, and selfishness to a great degree in the novel. Describing Daisy with the color of white, it indicates that under the pure and beautiful appearance, Daisy owns a …show more content…
East Egg reflects high class society where the inhabitants by birth are wealthy, referred to as “old money”; the “new money”, this is, West Egg refers to those who are recently wealthy because of the economic boom and are less responsible. Tom Buchanan makes many mistakes throughout the play and Scott Donaldson explains, "... like Myrtle, he is guilty of a crucial error in judgment. They are alike unwilling or unable to comprehend that it is not money alone that matters, but money combined with secure social position" (Donaldson 3). This quote alludes to the fact that money cannot do everything, but a combination of money and power will go far in society. Money may lead to a high position in society, but power will provide influence over the over characters. Even throughout the novel, the author points out "...Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made" (Fitzgerald 167). The quote hints that "new money" characters go over board spending excessive amounts of money on lavish materials and destroys others lives, yet it seems to ruin them in the end. Gatsby 's death is caused by trying to impress Daisy. The upper class is careless with its property and has weakening values throughout the

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