In the novel, “The Great Gatsby”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author writes about a collection of characters and their pursual of desires, which reveal the flaws in each character and inevitable tragedy. The story follows the protagonist, Nick Carraway, a middle class outsider who travels to West Egg seeking wealth, prosperity and gratification in order to fulfill his ambition of becoming a successful business man of bonds; all the while, he covertly observes the conflict between aspiring hedonists, within the aspects of lavish, love and desire known as the roaring 1920s within New York City. Nick ultimately discovers that his desire of being in the sumptuous and extravagant ambiance isn’t all what it appears to be. Through thwarted love, altered
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With literary criticism, a historical perspective can help examine the novel itself because of the closely-related events and time period. For instance, in the time period of the 1920s “many Americans had extra money to spend, and they spent it on consumer goods” (History) which is similar to how each individual may be materialistic and is either wealthy or aspires to be wealthy. Additionally, on “August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified prohibiting any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote based on sex” (“History”); this supports how women in “The Great Gatsby” have no shame in exerting more freedom yet society is still limiting them, for instance, although at this time period Daisy Buchanan can vote, she would prefer her daughter to be a “beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald. 17) because society still will not take women seriously, this is to the point where women will have to support themselves based on their appearance. Ultimately, the values and history of the American Dream portray greed, decaying social and moral values and the inferiority of women are potentially negative and can unveil a character’s underlying
With literary criticism, a historical perspective can help examine the novel itself because of the closely-related events and time period. For instance, in the time period of the 1920s “many Americans had extra money to spend, and they spent it on consumer goods” (History) which is similar to how each individual may be materialistic and is either wealthy or aspires to be wealthy. Additionally, on “August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified prohibiting any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote based on sex” (“History”); this supports how women in “The Great Gatsby” have no shame in exerting more freedom yet society is still limiting them, for instance, although at this time period Daisy Buchanan can vote, she would prefer her daughter to be a “beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald. 17) because society still will not take women seriously, this is to the point where women will have to support themselves based on their appearance. Ultimately, the values and history of the American Dream portray greed, decaying social and moral values and the inferiority of women are potentially negative and can unveil a character’s underlying