The Importance Of Religion In The Great Gatsby

The setting in any novel remarkably impacts both characters and actions. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the author uses New York City in the 1920’s as a means of influence on the character’s development and actions. The striving for the American Dream, superficial change in women roles, and the absence of religion, are themes within the novel and American life during the Roaring Twenties. The absence of religion is a key theme of the 1920’s that contributes to the development of the characters and their actions. Throughout the novel, God and religion are ignored. Characters like Tom, Gatsby, and Daisy have no religious affiliations. Daisy is Catholic, yet her morals, values, and actions say otherwise. She is self-centred and …show more content…
Her reaction to Gatsby’s shirts typifies her character: “They’re such beautiful shirts…It makes me sad because I have never seen such beautiful shirts before” (70-71). This expresses the profound care and love Daisy has for clothes. She develops an emotional connection when exposed to clothing she believes to be beautiful. Secondly, Daisy does not mention attending church in the novel. Instead, she is too busy worrying about herself; “Do they miss me?” (9). She does not have time for her religion as she is too obsessed with herself. Tom and Daisy are both very selfish, they only live to achieve their desires: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness…” (138). Their lack of faith in God creates a meaningless life for them. They begin to neglect their religious responsibilities and focus on acquiring wealth. George Wilson, did not belong to a religion, yet showed more faith in God.