Social Structure In The Great Gatsby

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In the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald, there exists a series of motifs. These recurring themes include a discussion of wealth, social divisions, and the lack of mobility between social classes. Through the medium of his novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald is able to explore 1920’s America and the culture surrounding such a revolutionary decade. Gatsby delves into such concepts as social divisions, morality, and the blatant superiority complex held by upper class individuals in society. Fitzgerald provides insight into the minds of various characters who represent and convey every subset of social hierarchy (Tredell 5) all the while remaining focused on the larger picture: American society as a whole. He makes use of characters from each location …show more content…

West Egg is used to symbolize those with “new money” and gatsby embodies the values of those living on the brink of high society who are not quite there yet. Despite his wealth, Gatsby can not enter the top class alongside Tom and Daisy and this division remains throughout his life. (Sjostrom, “Location and class” 8). Gatsby is a typical embodiment of those who pretend to correspond to the level of aristocracy held by those across the water in East Egg. This is an important point to emphasize when examining the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. Though Gatsby has money, he is not conditioned socially in the same way as those who were born into it. He gains his wealth in his pursuit of Daisy and never loses his sense of wonder, hope, or compassion while Daisy has already become numb to most if not all of these things.(Jam, “Symbolism in The Great Gatsby.”) Gatsby holds onto a past with Daisy and refuses to accept the reality that they have become different people and that their lives have gone separate directions as is symbolized by their respective locations divided by the valley of …show more content…

Scott Fitzgerald is able to comment on many aspects of American culture including social values and declining morality in 1920’s America. In addition to a commentary on American culture in the 1920’s, Fitzgerald is able to communicate a commentary on social divisions that remains relevant to this day. The message of social division and decay communicated in The Great Gatsby has stood the test of time and whether the discussion is of socioeconomic divisions as it is in the novel or if it is of an issue from another decade such as the civil rights movement of the 60’s or more recently, the movement for gay rights, social divisions are a reality that can be observed at any point in American history (Goldberg, “Discontented America”) and this will likely remain a reality long into the

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