The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is yet another book that exhibits realism. The first example of this is its portrayal of imperfect people. Numerous characters within this story are having affairs with one another. Though this is certainly not one of the most attractive aspects of society, it is a reality that can be glossed over by some. Fitzgerald does anything but ignore and gloss over this part of society. There are four characters taking part within an affair and three of these characters are married. These affairs bring about the deaths of two of the four as well. From the beginning, Tom is involved in an affair with a woman, Myrtle, while he is married to his wife, Daisy. Through the story, Daisy then becomes involved with Gatsby
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Taking part during the early 1920’s in New York, much of the focus is on the rich and their excessive lifestyle at the time. The difference between old money and new money plays a role within the story and at this point in time it also was an issue of debate due to new opportunities for individuals to increase their status. Prohibition plays a role as well due to Gatsby’s wealth ultimately coming out of bootlegging rather than anything else he attempts to pass off as the source. These aspects are important to the story and are true to the time period. Tom says of Gatsby, “I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn 't far wrong” (Fitzgerald ?). Here he obviously points out Gatsby as a bootlegger, but he also reveals something of the difference between new and old money as well. At the very least at first glance, Tom, as someone who was born into money, was able to tell that Gatsby did not come from money and from there he jumped to the conclusion that it must have been from an illegal source. Gatsby’s bootlegging past is both realism through the depiction of the time period and, more generally, an understanding of how money works. He did not simply force himself rich by will alone, which his fantasy version of himself attempts to convince people. Gatsby was only able to come about such great wealth by breaking the law. This is incredibly realistic as often the quickest methods of making money tend to be those that are
Taking part during the early 1920’s in New York, much of the focus is on the rich and their excessive lifestyle at the time. The difference between old money and new money plays a role within the story and at this point in time it also was an issue of debate due to new opportunities for individuals to increase their status. Prohibition plays a role as well due to Gatsby’s wealth ultimately coming out of bootlegging rather than anything else he attempts to pass off as the source. These aspects are important to the story and are true to the time period. Tom says of Gatsby, “I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn 't far wrong” (Fitzgerald ?). Here he obviously points out Gatsby as a bootlegger, but he also reveals something of the difference between new and old money as well. At the very least at first glance, Tom, as someone who was born into money, was able to tell that Gatsby did not come from money and from there he jumped to the conclusion that it must have been from an illegal source. Gatsby’s bootlegging past is both realism through the depiction of the time period and, more generally, an understanding of how money works. He did not simply force himself rich by will alone, which his fantasy version of himself attempts to convince people. Gatsby was only able to come about such great wealth by breaking the law. This is incredibly realistic as often the quickest methods of making money tend to be those that are