The Great Gatsby 3 Essay

Submitted By Emilie-Zaenker
Words: 1310
Pages: 6
Open Document
So many meanings, so little time
The 1920’s were a time of great technological and social innovation. Technology, music and even social expectations underwent many changes during this decade and F. Scott-Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby seems to reflect on these strides. Then again it also seems to depict an understated power struggle between the genders and the flaws of humanity. A humanity that just happens to exist during the early 20th century. To fully comprehend Fitzgerald’s meaning we have to go beyond our reserved personal readings and apply structured readings such as Psychoanalytic, Feminist, Marxist criticism and New Historicism to gather all possible intended purpose of the text and their significance.
Psychoanalytic criticism is the reading in which one focuses on the character’s state of mind and what things affect them into feeling these emotions. Nick Carroway; the narrator, and in many ways the protagonist of this novel, gives us the most intricate insight into his emotions, by openly retelling everything he remembers about his time spent in New York. Nick being a character of moral back ground does not tend to get involved with the scandals that surround him, and rather shows himself as a bystander in his own story, “The late sky bloomed in the window for a moment like blue honey of the Mediterranean - then the shrill voice of Mrs. McKee called me back into the room.” He describes himself in this scene as not being interested in what Mrs. McKee wants to say but would rather be alone with the changing colors of the sky and the activities of all that goes on outside the window rather than be with Tome Buchanan as he is blatantly disloyal to his wife. Fitzgerald however does not just depict him as a loner, Nick is shown humorous sand yet too naïve to catch onto the meaning others are trying to convey. “‘Tom’s got some woman in New York.’ ‘Some woman?’ I repeated blankly” followed soon by, “ I was confused and a little disgusted” Nick demonstrates here that he would have never contemplated the possibility of The Buchanan’s having marriage troubles or that a person could so openly go against the institution of the matrimonial state and that to him this is a abominable act to commit. Through a psychoanalytic reading Nick Carroway is shown as a gentle being with idealistic morals represent of his time.
Another reading of this critically acclaimed novel is that of a gender centered war, greatly shown by Tom and Daisy Buchanan who have a less than loving relationship and thus spend their long days testing out who can overthrow the other. These hostilities from daisy’s side seem to mainly aid her image towards society and signify that she is a woman that deeply cares about what society thinks. “As if [Tom]’s absence quickened something in her … her heart was trying to conceal one of those breathless, thrilling words. The suddenly she threw her napkin on the table and excused herself and went into the house.” We her husband leaves the dinner table to have telephone conversation with his mistress Daisy soon follows to argue his actions and ask him to be more civil but as far as we know she shows no objection to him having a mistress. All she cares about is keeping that knowledge in the family but her husband does not seem to care if anyone is criticizing them for his actions. Their arguments become a little less Private and a little more public, to the point when neither Tom nor Daisy really think the people surrounding them matter, “’Open the Whisky , Tom,’ she ordered… ‘Wait a minute’ Tom snapped.” This is said in front of Jordan, Nick and Gatsby. Jordan is of no importance because her and daisy are best friends and she already knows, Gatsby is the reason for the argument so why not involve him and Nick is always just depicted as an innocent bystander, a shadow on the wall, and as someone easily forgotten. The Buchanans at the climax of their plot are so engrossed in their war that they leave
Show More

Related Documents: The Great Gatsby 3 Essay

The Great Gatsby Chapter 3 Analysis

After being introduced to Jay Gatsby in Chapter 3, in regards to all that was read, it can be inferred that Gatsby is a hospitable, rich man. In the beginning of Chapter 3, Nick is explaining the parties his neighbor Gatsby hosts. The parties are beyond luxurious and guest always seem to have fun on and with Gatsby's property. Most of the guests at his party usually never meet Gatsby or even know him personally, yet without invitation, are more than welcomed. Guests are served with the finest drinks…

Words 497 - Pages 2

The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

The great and the gatsby by f. Scott fitzgerald, is a decline of the american dream of the 1920s set in the summer of 1922.A young nick carraway telling the story of his neighbor gatsby and how the love story of gatsby and daisy is portrayed.The great gatsby can be looked at as the american dream and the decline of the american dream.The american dream is any gender or immigrant coming to the us or living in the us in the rise of achieving success and prosperity through hard work and determination…

Words 579 - Pages 3

Great Gatsby Essay

The Great Gatsby Study Guide Questions Answers Chapter 2 1. The valley of the ashes looks like a massive trash dump and represents the rotting American dream. 2. Myrtle has great vitality within her and Mr. Wilson loves and cares for Myrtle. They are of middle class and certainly do not fit into the life of the rich. 3. Nick establishes himself as a person inclined to reserved judgment. Nick in this chapter proves that he cannot hold his liquor well and as he was quick to pass judgment…

Words 1633 - Pages 7

Twilight: The Great Gatsby Essay

Natalie Montano THE GREAT GATSBY MOVIE REVIEW 3/5 The Great Gatsby, a classic during it's time, but not so classic in the modern world today. The movie includes a widespread of scenes with advanced effect and amazing picture motion especially in 3-D. The golden textures and lines evolve a theme of a more present sense of cinema. In the Movie, the settings are in a magical snowy or hot area of West egg where they illustrate the scenes across the shores and the mysterious green light. Throughout…

Words 448 - Pages 2

Relationships In The Great Gatsby

within The Great Gatsby Throughout the novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald compares the connections between Gatsby/Daisy, Tom/Myrtle, Nick/Jordan; there are importance to these individuals. They can be between lovers, friends, and families. The novel shows these, but also the wrong types of relationships such as people having affairs.Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the relationships between the different characters, are dysfunctional, arrogant and materialistic. One can see that Gatsby and Daisy…

Words 840 - Pages 4

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Passionate Gaze Gatsby Essay

Chapter 7 1. Gatsby wants to be alone with Daisy. This is what he has always wanted. The parties were only so Gatsby could get nearer to her. Gatsby even replaces his servants so they will be more discreet. 2. By the time Tom clues in, Daisy and Gatsby are trying to hold back on the public affection. Gatsby, Jordan, Nick, Tom, and Daisy are lunching at Tom and Daisy's mansion. They discuss going into town and Tom notices the passionate gaze Gatsby gives towards his wife. Things really…

Words 2149 - Pages 9

Essay about Great Gatsby and the Influence of Money and Greed on Characters

Money and corruption in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" During the time in our country's history called the roaring twenties, society had a new obsession, money. Just shortly after the great depression, people's focus now fell on wealth and success in the economic realm. Many Americans would stop at nothing to become rich and money was the new factor in separation of classes within society. Wealth was a direct reflection of how successful a person really was and now became what many people…

Words 1776 - Pages 8

Literary Analysis On The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis A person’s success is measured by their material possessions, wealth, and those in their life. Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby would have more than succeeded by these standards with his huge mansion and luxurious parties every night attended by the most important people in New York during the 1920s. Gatsby acquired his wealth all just to impress one person who he doesn’t see for 5 years and when he does finally meet her again he loses all interest in everything…

Words 489 - Pages 2

Essay on Great Gatsby

Great Gatsby Essay 3. Show how the author’s use of imagery and/or symbolism reveals them OR reinforces aspects of character in a work studied in this course. The Great Gatsby, written by F.Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel about the love story of the main character Gatsby during the 1920s. In the novel, the author uses colours to reinforce the aspects of characters. Each colour has symbolic meaning from the beginning of the novel, but as the story develops and as the true nature of characters are revealed…

Words 319 - Pages 2

Examples Of Disillusionment In The Great Gatsby

Many people in this world are described as “great” but for the regular, unknown people who don’t truly know what most wealthy people do is illegal, are left to feel that they really are perfect since media describes them to be so.The interpretation of “great” is of an extent, amount, or intensity or considerably, above normal or average. Disillusionment is often the feeling many people get when they want something or someone who they is perfect but they really are not. One who feels this is always…

Words 1854 - Pages 8