The usage of Modernism in the The Great Gatsby - Research Paper Example

The Usage of Modernism in the Great Gatsby The great Gatsby is a novel written about life in the United s (US) after the First World War during the 1920s when the US economy was thriving. This was an era in the US that was referred to as the ‘Roaring Twenties’. This was because of the immense prosperity that the nation was going through in terms of culture and socioeconomic development. This can be attributed to the fact the US was not significantly affected by the war apart from sending its troops to the war. This gave the US an opportunity to grow its industries, which supplied the ongoing war in Europe thus, immensely improving its economy and its people’s living standards. People exhibiting modern thought in their perceptions and practices, in everyday life, characterized Modernism started around this time in the US, and it. The aim of this paper is to discuss the usage of modernism in the great Gatsby. The great Gatsby tells the story of the protagonist who is called Nick and his life as a bond sales man in New York. Nick settled in Long Island next to a rich and mysterious neighbor called Gatsby. Modernism is expressed by this setting of the story in that even in those days just like it is today, there were notions of people with old and new money phenomena that erected visible boundaries between the two. This is illustrated by the fact that, across the bay from where Nick had settled and regarded as new money, old money people lived across on the other side. People who had worked hard for their wealth were highly regarded by their peers than people of old money because they got their money through inheritance, which means they did not have to work for their money. There exists antagonism between old money and new as illustrated through the characters of Tom representing old money and Jay Gatsby representing new money. Modernism promotes and respects creation, thus the portrayal of Tom as a dislikeable character in the book, only accentuates the theme of modernism (Bloom 82). Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a mysterious character who is known to the protagonist as the next door neighbor fond of throwing lavish parties for the neighborhood. Nick gets a chance to attend one of Gatsby’s parties where he learns of the reason behind the party. Modernism here is expressed by the fact that Gatsby employs an unconventional way of luring his first love Daisy to attend one of his parties. This was in an attempt get a chance to rekindle their past romance, which he still hopes has an opportunity of flourishing despite the fact that she is married to Tom. This illustrates modernistic ways of thinking and the belief on the part of Gatsby that money can help him acquire anything he desires. Gatsby’s way of thinking represents a modernistic characteristic of a revolt against mainstream societal morals that did not condone promiscuity in marriages. Here, Gatsby does not show any restriction in his views about rekindling his romance with Daisy, yet she is a married woman. He goes on to set up a date with her through her friends so that he could get a chance to meet her alone without the presence of her husband Tom. Modernism is a broad aspect that is depicted in this book especially when it comes to morality. People are portrayed putting their desires, beliefs and feelings above what is morally right and acceptable. This can be construed, as an illustration to the direction in which the society was taking in terms of what people thought should take precedent in their lives. Moral dictates that were upheld by traditional norms are not supported by modernism and the characters in the book excellently uphold the dictates of modernism (Childs 21). Extramarital affairs are rampant in the text and sexual practices that were only a premise of the orient, are freely practiced in the society. Tom freely and shamelessly boasts, to his friends, about his cheating exploits and goes to the extent of inviting his wife’s cousin to meet his mistress Myrtle. She happens to be a married woman whose reason, for cheating on her husband, is that she despises him begging the question why she married him. This depicts a society where marriage is not treated as a sanctified institution and the union is not accorded the respect it deserves. The society has people who have misplaced priorities and exhibit identity problems and they lack a sense of belonging. Jordan who happens to be Nick’s girlfriend is a person who seems to justify the saying that goes like ‘the end justifies the means’. This is because Jordan, who is a golfer of questionable repute according to Nick, is ready to go to any lengths to achieve what she wants. Through her actions, the reader is able to see the disregard of morals when she agrees to set up a meeting for Gatsby with Daisy, yet she was aware of his intentions towards a married woman. A disregard of morals is a modernistic principle because it promotes selfishness above all else (Berman 28) an aspect that Nick comes to learn is an intrinsic factor in the people he comes across. Racism and gender discrimination through violence is an aspect that is clearly brought out in the character of Tom Buchannan who is seen objectifying women. Racial discrimination against black people is Tom’s main concern because he deems the white race superior to other races. He takes pride in being a white supremacist that operates on the dogma of male domination over females and hatred for other races especially black African Americans. This can be attributed to modernistic principles of capitalism in a society characterized by the love and adoration of money. Tom represents a class of post modernistic individuals, which can also include Gatsby when it comes to the issue of money (Lehan 139) because they believe money is the solution to all their problems. They believe that money puts them in a class above other people in society, a notion exemplified by Gatsby’s refusal to run away after murdering Myrtle on the road. He must have thought he was above the law or retribution because he was rich. Modernistic thinking in this book leads characters to think that their riches give them leeway where others cannot get the same. Tom is convinced that his violence against women can never be punished because that is the way things are supposed to be, from his perspective, as a white supremacist. Gatsby is depicted believing that nothing can happen to him because he is rich and he knows certain people who can guarantee his safety and wellbeing. Gatsby represents a niche of modernistic society that does not question the moral suitability of an individual’s avenues of acquiring wealth. This is because it becomes apparently clear towards the end of the book that everyone except the protagonist knew the source of Gatsby’s wealth, and it did not seem to bother him or her. Gatsby was involved in the illegal corrupt criminal underworld of bootlegging in New York, which enabled him to accumulate immense wealth within a short time. Modernism purports to be against corruption but its principles of promoting economic and social awareness takes precedence over its calls against corruption (Whitworth 241). Modernism also holds justice in contempt because through Tom and Gatsby it is illustrated that they both think justice cannot be meted to them because they are rich. The Great Gatsby is a good example of a literary piece of work that has excellent display of modernistic thinking, and ideologies that are promoted throughout the text by various characters. The book presents a rejection of traditional themes, forms and subjects that were upheld in society in pre-modernistic times. It also shows a rejection of the notion of heroism in favor of a flawed hero who showed grace under pressure. This is a modernistic best fit to the great Gatsby because heroism is still appreciated and promoted in modernism as exhibited by his sacrifice for the love of his life. Works Cited. Berman, R. Translating Modernism: Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Reprint Edition. University of Alabama Press. 2010. Print. Bloom, H. F. Scott Fitzgerald's the Great Gatsby: Bloom's modern critical interpretations. Infobase Publishing. 2010. Print. Childs, P. Modernism. 2nd Revised Edition. London: Routledge. 2008. Print. Lehan, R. Literary Modernism and Beyond: The Extended Vision and the Realms of the Text. LSU Press. 2012. Print. Whitworth, M. H. Modernism. Annotated Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 2008. Print. Read More