Of The 20s Essay, Research Paper
??????????????? Fitzgerald describes the
American society of the 1920s as being superficial and ?artificial?, where
everything is false and made up. Just as the whole book itself, the people in
it give an appearence but then, we get to know what they?re really like. We may
get the impression of it being a a love story, but deep in its theme we find
out that it is not that; it?s a social satire. Fitzgerald is trying to reflect
how people from the time behaved and critizises their uncontrolable love for
money, which is often confused for ?real love? in the novel. ??????????????? The 1920s were a time of
opportunities in order to earn some money and succed socially and economically.
The desire for achieving the upper class society is what confused Gatsby after
all. He thought he loved Daisy but, really, what he loved was the money behind
her. He, even, says once that Daisy?s voice sounded like money. He?s anxious
for having her but not just because of her, also because he would be definately
bunched in that arrogant society to where he wanted to belong, and Fitzgerald,
through Nick?s eyes, critizises so much. ??????????????? Nick, instead, is a listener and
he manages to stay apart from this impressive heuteur that blinded Gatsby. He
has the quality of being able to observe everything without getting emotionally
involved. Even his ?love? for Jordan is not very talked about, maybe because it
was a vague relationship which he knew, wouldn?t take anywhere (?Jordan was
rotten and empty inside?). He realises this, especially when he observes the
impersonal way with which she treated Gatsby (although she took advantage of
his generosity in parties) and how she remains unaffected after his death. ??????????????? Gatsby?s death, this is only
time where Nick has emotionally played a part in this society, and it is for
Gatsby. He knew Gatsby was alone behind the protective wall he tried to build
by celebrating parties and he knew that Gatsby was just living free and letting
himself be guided by the power of money?s will. Gatsby had, once, been like him
so he could understand. ??????????????? As i?ve said before, these
people described in the book are not sensitive as they care about others, as in
Gatsby?s death. The re
ever been waiting for the longest day of the year and then missed it? I have
always been waiting for the longest day of the year and then missed it?) shows
she is as vacuous as any other and empty-minded. She just thinks about herself.
When Gatsby dies, instead of caring for him she hides behind Tom, who protects
her, s that she doesn?t get mixed with Gatsby?s criminal past that will now
flourish through the newspapers. It was alright to go to his parties and have
fun (?these people who accepted Gatsby?s hospitality and paid him the subtle
tribute of knowing nothing whatever about him?), but when the time came were
they had to show their real friendship towards that person, they disappeared in
order to maintain their name clean and a good reputation amongst the wealthy people. ??????????????? Appearance is very important in
this society. Gatsby appeared to have many friends at parties but the reality
is that he didn?t know anyone at all, and Nick knew this, but not all? the other who attended the parties. There?s
a scene where we are pointed out that he had a library with many books but he
hadn?t read one yet. They were there to make him look educated. ??????????????? When Daisy says: ?I did love him
(Gatsby) once, but I love you (Tom)? to tom we realise that she?s with Tom for
convenience. To gives her a name, protection and wealth, whereas Gatsby
wouldn?t. When she meets Gatsby at Nick?s house we see she?s very in love with
him; but when the time comes where she has to choose, Gatsby?s sudden wealth is
defeated by Tom?s reputation. Because the imaginary rules of the upper class
state that there must be wealth AND a family name going back for over
generations in order to be recognised and respected. This is a fact that Gatsby
forgot when he invented himself. At the age of 17 he re-invented himself and changed
his name because, as he thought, that would give him the starting point to a
nes life but he forgot that the pats cannot be changed, no matter how much
effort you put into your future. ??????????????? At the end, Nick went back West
because he was fed up of watching cold-hearted people living empty lives and
knowing that they?re condemned to live a futile existence for the rest of their
lives.