In United States history, the era of the 1920s will always be remembered of a time of luxury, expensive tastes, styles, and lifestyles. However, many tend to forget the darker side of what seemed like a happy age in history, one of debt, destruction, and ultimately the Great Depression, where thousands of Americans suffered in poverty. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, he expands upon the greed of the wealth, and the downfall of such a “happy” time by playing with the lifestyles of the characters in order to achieve an elegant and eye opening masterpiece. Before creating The Great Gatsby, Matthew J. Bruccoli wrote of Fitzgerald 's intent of the book, saying he wanted to “write something new--something extraordinary and beautiful
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Gatsby’s push for Daisy to notice him, over years of large parties and unbelievable wealth, and his frantic despair as his struggles and wilts plays on the interpretation of both love, and loss. Fitzgerald shows how much love can play and twist one’s life and choices, as Gatsby becomes corrupted and overwhelmed with the determination to be with the woman he loves. The author’s description of the failure of love exemplifies the beauty of the book, saying, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch our arms farther...and one fine morning--” (180). In saying so, Fitzgerald achieves this idea of beauty in creating hope after Gatsby’s death, and providing the reader with a way to reflect on the struggle of love and the overwhelming sense of determination that is hope. He expands upon the fascinating idea that is love and hardships, and represents Gatsby’s relentless struggle to achieve this goal in a way that one can’t help but be awestruck on the massive detail and meaning that he includes in its description. Fitzgerald includes this sort of beauty in Gatsby’s fascination with the green lantern, shining from Daisy’s dock across …show more content…
Fitzgerald includes a blatant reflection of the sickness of wealth in the 1920s, but also writes of a much deeper meaning of the inconsistent wants and needs of the rich. When Tom and Nick go to visit Tom’s mistress in the valley of ashes, she requests to buy a dog for Tom’s apartment, specifically a police dog. However, throughout the party, the dog was abandoned with mediocre food and little attention for something that needed so much care. Later on in the party, the neglected dog is described by Nick, saying, “The little dog was sitting on the table looking with blind eyes through the smoke, and from time to time groaning faintly.” (36). This small and helpless dog, only bought for show and so easily thrown away, represents Mrs. Wilson herself and her relationship with Tom. She was a mangy yet impressive mistress that Tom acquired to fulfill what he thought he needed, but yet by hitting her he takes away her innocence and shows her delicate nature, just like the dog She is left and soon abandoned, confused, whimpering, and alone. By adding this simple symbolism, Fitzgerald actually opens another layer of their relationship and the wants and abandonment of the rich, and ties into the end of the book, when Tom abandons the death of Myrtle
Gatsby’s push for Daisy to notice him, over years of large parties and unbelievable wealth, and his frantic despair as his struggles and wilts plays on the interpretation of both love, and loss. Fitzgerald shows how much love can play and twist one’s life and choices, as Gatsby becomes corrupted and overwhelmed with the determination to be with the woman he loves. The author’s description of the failure of love exemplifies the beauty of the book, saying, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch our arms farther...and one fine morning--” (180). In saying so, Fitzgerald achieves this idea of beauty in creating hope after Gatsby’s death, and providing the reader with a way to reflect on the struggle of love and the overwhelming sense of determination that is hope. He expands upon the fascinating idea that is love and hardships, and represents Gatsby’s relentless struggle to achieve this goal in a way that one can’t help but be awestruck on the massive detail and meaning that he includes in its description. Fitzgerald includes this sort of beauty in Gatsby’s fascination with the green lantern, shining from Daisy’s dock across …show more content…
Fitzgerald includes a blatant reflection of the sickness of wealth in the 1920s, but also writes of a much deeper meaning of the inconsistent wants and needs of the rich. When Tom and Nick go to visit Tom’s mistress in the valley of ashes, she requests to buy a dog for Tom’s apartment, specifically a police dog. However, throughout the party, the dog was abandoned with mediocre food and little attention for something that needed so much care. Later on in the party, the neglected dog is described by Nick, saying, “The little dog was sitting on the table looking with blind eyes through the smoke, and from time to time groaning faintly.” (36). This small and helpless dog, only bought for show and so easily thrown away, represents Mrs. Wilson herself and her relationship with Tom. She was a mangy yet impressive mistress that Tom acquired to fulfill what he thought he needed, but yet by hitting her he takes away her innocence and shows her delicate nature, just like the dog She is left and soon abandoned, confused, whimpering, and alone. By adding this simple symbolism, Fitzgerald actually opens another layer of their relationship and the wants and abandonment of the rich, and ties into the end of the book, when Tom abandons the death of Myrtle