Who Is Marginalized In The Great Gatsby

Many groups within The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald are marginalized to establish the status and wealth of the main characters. Meyer Wolfsheim, people of color, and the lower class are all marginalized in different ways ranging from “othering” to Tom’s tyrannical control of the lower class. By marginalizing these groups, Fitzgerald reinforces the status and power of the main characters within the story based on their wealth, race, and ethnic background in a way that reflects upon 1920’s America.
Marginalization based on ethnicity is shown when Wolfsheim is introduced into the story in chapter four. Gatsby describes Wolfsheim as a friend but the extent of their relationship is made clear by Wolfsheim’s description of Gatsby as, “the

kind of man you’d like to take home and introduce to your mother and sister,” (Fitzgerald 72). Based on this positive relationship with Gatsby, it should be expected that Wolfsheim would be portrayed positively. Instead of the anticipated positive description, Wolfsheim is described as a terrifying criminal who Nick would like to avoid at all costs. Although Wolfsheim’s history of crime would explain Nick’s reluctance, this doesn’t explain why there are many examples of Wolfsheim being excluded based on his Jewish heritage. Wolfsheim’s heritage is almost solely emphasized using common racial stereotype about his nose. The first description of Wolfsheim is that he is,” A small, flat-nosed Jew,” (69). Although it can be argued that this is just a factual statement about his appearance, his nose is stated by Nick to have, “flashed at me indignantly,” (70) and as being a, “tragic nose,” (72). The emphasis on Wolfsheim’s nose in relation to his Jewish heritage is interwoven into his descriptions as a gambler and criminal. By emphasizing his Jewish heritage and his criminality Fitzgerald supports stereotypes that portray Jewish people as greedy and obsessed with financial success. By tying Wolfsheim’s criminality to his heritage, Gatsby becomes more acceptable and humanized even though it is known he engaged in many illegal activities.
Nowhere in the novel are people of color given the opportunity to speak.

Although this shows that this social group was silenced, there are still a few minor incidents where people of colored are mentioned. The first incident occurs early in the first chapter of the book when Nick is at dinner with Tom and Daisy. During their discussion, Tom decides to express his thoughts on a book he had read which was titled “The Rise of the Colored Empires,” (12). Tom then goes on to state that, “Civilization’s going to pieces,” (12) and that, “we’re Nordics… and we’ve produced all the things that go to make civilization,” (13). Although Tom’s statements are blunt, they still show the inexcusable bias and lack of humility on behalf of the white characters. A subtler line within story occurs while Gatsby and Nick are on their way to meet Wolfsheim in chapter four. While driving, Nick observes that there is, “A limousine…driven by a white chauffeur, in which sat three modish negroes…the yolks of their eyeballs rolled toward us in haughty rivalry,” (69). These three people are obviously well off because of their ability to hire a driver, but despite this, they’re still described as being in, “haughty rivalry.” This perceived rivalry on Nick’s behalf shows that he and Gatsby are in a position of power which can only be contested through outward expressions of wealth. Furthermore, this description of people of color portrays people of color as lower in status than the white

characters even though they’re also in a position of wealth. This perception of people of color as lower is confirmed by Nick when he states that, “Anything can happen now that we’ve slid over this bridge,” (69) because the mere act of seeing rich people of color is enough to evoke surprise. This description not only portrays people of color poorly, but it further cements that the main characters have more status because of their racial background.
Finally, Tom’s relationship with the Myrtle and George Wilson demonstrates how the upper class can ignore and manipulate the lower-class because it is marginalized and excluded from positions power.

The lack of social power that the lower class possess is shown by Tom’s physical assault on Myrtle in chapter two. Throughout most of this chapter, Myrtle can hold power because of her relationship with Tom. After joining Nick and Tom, Myrtle changes into an expensive chiffon dress. After putting on this expensive symbol of status, “her assertions became more violently affected moment by moment, and as she expanded the room grew smaller around her,” (31). This increase in power is connected to status supplied by Tom in the form of the dress. In the same way that Tom can supply power, he is also able to take it away. With Tom’s consent Myrtle can express a large amount of social power, but when she tries to go against him it vanishes. In response to Myrtle’s comments about Daisy, it is stated that, “Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand,” (37). Similarly, Tom can control George’s economic power by prolonging the delivery of cars to his garage. When Wilson attempts to question the wait, Tom simply replies that, “if you feel that way about it, maybe I’d better sell it somewhere else after all,” (25). Tom’s effectively has complete control over the Wilson family because they’ve been marginalized and removed from positions of power. Ultimately this treatment of

the lower class further contrasts the power and status of the wealthy characters making their differences seem incomparable.
By separating Wolfsheim, people of color, and the poor from the main characters of the story, Fitzgerald can effectively determine status based upon ethnic background, race, and wealth. By marginalizing social groups that the main characters don’t belong to, Fitzgerald reinforces the status and power of the main characters in a way that is accurate to the setting of 1920’s America.