Self-Centeredness Illustrated in The Great Gatsby

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Recommended: American social classes in the 1920s

Self-centered people live in a world where only their own agenda matters, and the wants and needs they have overpower any moral code imbedded in their conscience. This type of person becomes oblivious to all the things around them that keep order, as they disregard any concern that conflicts with what they desire. Such people are depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, that takes place in Long Island during the 1920’s, The Great Gatsby. The book, which takes almost a satirical view of the social and moral problems of the 20’s, shows how people who are completely submerged in only their own business are never satisfied. Like many of the characters in The Great Gatsby, being negligent of other peoples lives causes you to end up being miserably self-centered and naïve, which was evident in all levels of the 1920’s social structure.

It seems that all the characters in the book, ranging from those who attend Gatsby’s parties, to Gatsby himself, display acts of being self-centered throughout the novel. The middle class citizens that flow into the West Egg for his parties have no desire to really meet Gatsby, and only attend the parties for their own gain. They wreck his house every weekend, only to return again and expect it to be ready for them. The actions they take show how in this era people were immersed in themselves, and that they didn’t care how something went about happening, as long as it didn’t conflict with the plans

they had to create conflict. Even the lowest classes, that dwell in the ash-fields of Long Island had their preferences ahead of what was best for those around them. Myrtle, Tom’s mistress, embodies how wealth and temptation can lead to a person being naïve and inconsiderate of what they already have. ...

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...urred in the exuberant wealthy class, but ranged throughout the class system of this time period. A self-centered person is someone to feel sorry for, because they are so wrapped up with themselves they will never see the world clearly. A self centered nation, or island in this case, surpasses just being a trait, and instead becomes a trend. The idea of burning through wealth, and giving up your personal values for something to please you is an unrealistic way to live. The nation began to take a turn for the worst, and it is almost foreshadowing the doomed future. In the 1930’s the Great Depression hit, and I’m sure the idea of being self-centered became extinct. This follow-up is proof that being self-centered leads to a downfall or change. Even if a person could live like Daisy forever, they wouldn’t really be living, because they would never really be satisfied.

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