Moralism In The Great Gatsby

The 1920’s was a tumultuous time for a young generation in search of a little fun. After World War I, gender roles were no longer the concrete pillars of society and the roaring 20’s era was born out of the ensuing chaos. This chaos included jazz, loose morals, and the sale of illegal alcohol that would ensure this generation of rabble-rousers would be notorious. Many writers attempted to capture the essence of this remarkable time. One of the most prolific of these writers, and one of the biggest contributors to the language that now surrounds the time, was F. Scott Fitzgerald. Through the theme of the deterioration of the American dream and American morals and traditions, F. Scott Fitzgerald reflected his life in the jazz age, including

In fact, it could be argued that Fitzgerald created an “...alter ego, Nick Caraway, [and] recalls wistfully the America of his youth” and the chaos of a transition to the eastern way of life through this character (Zeitz). Fitzgerald appeared to have a sense of contempt for the wealthy and it is evident in the way he often described them: “wanderers, confident girls who weave here and there among the stouter and more stable become for a sharp, joyous moment the center of a group, and then, excited with triumph, glide on through the sea-change of faces and voices and color under the constantly changing light” (Fitzgerald 41). Fitzgerald was surrounded by these shallow, vivacious women and, logically, they would fill the background of the extraordinary parties that Scott and Zelda would attend. Besides accurately portraying the personalities of the jazz age, Fitzgerald also artfully recounted the historical aspects that his generation faced. The prohibition had little effect on the characters of the novel, as insinuated with Gatsby’s “drug store business”, just as it had little effect on the wealthy during the 1920’s. More Americans than ever could afford electricity, glassware, jewelry, and trips to the theater or an amusement park (Zeitz). The line between classes became more and more blurred as luxuries became easier to gain.

H.L. Mencken, one of the novels toughest critics, was able to praise each page of the novel as “...full of little delicacies; charming turns of phrase, penetrating second thoughts” (Mencken). Though Mencken was disappointed by the general theme and plot of the novel, he could not resist complimenting Fitzgerald’s pure lyrical talent. Lillian C, Ford argued that the plot was rich in value despite what others were saying. She wrote: “It leaves the reader in a mood of chastened wonder, in which fact after fact, implication after implication is pondered over, weighed and measured. And when all are linked together the weight of the story as a revelation of life and as a work of art becomes apparent” (Lucey). Whether or not readers enjoyed the book at the time of its release, it cannot be argued that the book is one of the most well known novels of all time and one favored by many