Report on the Great Gatsby
Report on the Great GatsbyGreat Gatsby
Two prevalent themes portrayed in The Great Gatsby are money and social
status, both which coincide with the novel’s four settings: East Egg, West
Egg, the Valley of Ashes, and New York. As Natania stated, these different
locations are used to “show the absurdities of modern life,” as well as to
dictate social class from the upper royal status of the East Egg community to
the common folk of New York. Fitzgerald uses these settings and the
actions of characters within them to define and set boundaries between
financial and social status of the roaring 20’s.
An example of Fitzgerald’s technique lies in the comparison of Myrtle
Wilson’s party in her New York apartment to one of Gatsby’s many summer
parties in his West Egg mansion. Through descriptions of guests coming
and going frequently, and the obnoxious drinking and wild conversation
going on at the New York and West Egg parties, the reader can conclude
that neither of these locations are above the social standing of an upper class
party of East Egg, such as one at Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s without the
slight insanity of their dysfunctional family. However, the differences
between Myrtle and Gatsby’s parties are great and relevant to Fitzgerald’s
theme.
For example, the physical description of guests attending the party in
New York gives knowledge to the reader of their lower class standing.
Myrtle’s sister arrives...
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