Hollow Society In The Great Gatsby

Social occasions in the form of parties and galas are some of the most common depictions of communion in texts. Some of the most famous and revealing party scenes take place in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The novel takes place in a period of disillusionment and extravagance followed immediately after the Great War. In fact, Fitzgerald actually experienced the extravagance of the society around him firsthand. During 1923, the period in which he began writing The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald lived in Long Island, but soon ended up moving to France due to discontent with the society there (Tredell 7). Through the character interactions and depictions of the various gatherings, Fitzgerald makes the idea of a wasteful and hollow society

Carraway describes the atmosphere as “spilled with prodigality” (Fitzgerald 44). Gatsby’s fills his parties with wasteful extravagances like alcohol, and his efforts toward love end up as futile. The people, instead of appreciating Gatsby, backhandedly gossip about his past as a German spy, and simply partake in the alcohol being served (Fitzgerald 48). Instead of representing the upper echelon’s of 1920s’ society, in contrast to the poor, the party-goers appear weak, superficial, and unworthy of such acclaim, especially when given their tendency to gossip. With this depiction of the partiers, Fitzgerald showcases the hollow nature of 1920s society, lacking in morality and

In this case, context becomes imperative. The old king of Denmark has just died, and Clausius now hosts a feast proclaiming Gertrude, the old Queen, as his wife. Instead of mourning, Claudius hosts a party, which not only shows his apathy toward the death of the king but also hints at more maleficent intent, Not only that, but the interactions Claudius has emphasize his failure to keep up with the exigence of old Hamlet. For example, when talking to Laertes, Claudius uses an accusatory tone with the constant repetition of Laertes’ name to make the coy Laertes to respond instead of the reverence that Laertes should have for him (Shakespeare I. ii. 42-51). However, in reality, Laertes has no reverence or respect for him, as evidenced through his referral of Claudius as “dread lord” (Shakespeare I. ii. 52). Through the coming together of the Danes after the funeral not only highlights Claudius’ questionable nature, but also the their lack of reverence for the new