Outward Appearances in the Great Gatsby

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Outward Appearances in the Great Gatsby

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby outward appearances are essential. They provide a glimpse at the artificial world inhabited by Jay Gatsby, a

product of his own imagination(Lehan,"the road to West Egg" 29) and Daisy Fay

Buchanan, the embodiment of glamour and wealth (Brewley 44), two characters whose

action thoroughly develops the plot, and two who have become so consumed by the

image they have created that they do not truly know their own identities. This

deceptiveness created by outward appearances is seen no more clearly than in the pictures

painted by Fitzgerald of Gatsby's "bewildering parties" (E.K. 7), and in his business

dealings which are connected with the "underworld bond and brokerage business"

(Lehan). The valley of ashes, "where all hopes must be left behind"(long 123), and the

grand mansions of Gatsby and the Buchanans also offer the reader a look at the massive

illusions created by Fitzgerald's characters. As the Great Gatsby progresses, the outward

appearances of events, places and people can prove to be very deceptive.

What more can explify the importance of outward appearances than the parties of

the roaring twenties and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The first three chapters of the

novel are devoted to party scenes; 1) the "proper dinner party" at the Buchanan's in East

Egg; 2) the wild drunken party at Tom and Myrtle's apartment in New York; and, 3)

Gatsby's extravagant party in West Egg. These scenes introduce all of the important

characters and places in the novel, as to give the impression of artificially (Miller 107).

Each of these parties emphasizes the impressio...

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identity. Daisy, the object of his desire, is also quite obscure.

Throught out Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby the importance of outward

appearances is ever present and continuosly deceptive. One can witness through the

parties of "dazzling extravagance"(E.K. 7), the decieving underworld business of Gatsby,

the "wasteland" Valley of Ashes (Miller 106), the unreal ,cold palaces of the East and

West Egg, and most of all in the imaginary self-invented souls of Jay Gatsby and Daisy

Buchanan the truth to the idea of outward appearances. Not only did these deceptive

masks prove to be important but they were essential to the plot of the novel. The Great

Gatsby 's success can be attributed to the twists and turns provided by the human need to

judge one another and develop onesself through the use of outward appearances.

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