The Great Gatsby written by author F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that somewhat depicts the life of people living in the 1920’s in America. The novel follows Nick Caraway as his life is transformed when he meets Jay Gatsby. The novel then goes into great deal on the topic of Gatsby’s love for Daisy Buchanan, but she is married to John Buchanan, a scumbag that constantly cheats on her as he makes his way into the city.
More important to the love Gatsby has for Daisy, is Gatsby’s movement up the socio-economic ranks. He starts his life as a boy who has next to nothing. He moves his way up the ladder by, allegedly, becoming a bootlegger and making his fortune illegally. This move by F. Scott Fitzgerald is to show that in order to make your way up in America in the 1920’s, one was forced to do so through illegal actions. The rich came from old money, only getting richer throughout the years. Once Gatsby became rich, he was ridiculed for being from new money, and not reaching the happiness he believed he would get from becoming rich. This speaks more about the American Dream. One can reach the American Dream, but if you start at the bottom, getting to the top will cost you to do things that can come back to bite you.
Gatsby’s means of attaining wealth were quite common for the Roaring Twenties. Organized crime was the most frequent act, and Fitzgerald would make this known by creating a character like Gatsby. He traded stolen securities and illegally distributed alcohol, crimes commonly performed during the Prohibition of the 1920s. Fitzgerald really hits home on the false idea of the American Dream. Gatsby achieved it, but did so through crime and corruption, and so he lived a lie.
I think Gatsby did a good job attaining wealth considering the class differences during the time period. I think after what happened to him about Daisy ,I think he would turn into a bad person if he did not die.
I agree that made huge strides for his socio-economic rank, which I feel is mostly for the love of Daisy. He does so through illegal means, but it was something typical of the time. He had “new money”, in which he flaunted in ridiculous fashions; he had the most extravagant parties at his enormous mansion. He spent the majority of his life gaining enormous wealth, but true love is what he needed.
I think Gatsby’s character highlights the corruption behind the American Dream. Fitzgerald highlights that the only realistic method of achieving the American Dream quickly is by illegal terms. Jay Gatsby became exponentially rich because he was an illegal bootlegger. The American Dream disregarded moral values in society and emphasized greed and selfishness.
It’s important to take into account the time period that this book was written and takes place in. during the 1920’s income inequality was at an all-time high in America. At the same time, the fallout from the first world war had disillusioned many across the world, braking the positivity and hope for society’s future that had characterized preceding decades.
Mrtyle embodies corruption as well. She deeply desires to live the life of the elite, like Tom and Gatsby and is willing to take great risks to achieve that, even if it is for a brief period of time. This desire, in part, is what leads to her death.