The Great Gatsby as a Tale of Modernist Mourning - Essay Example

The Great Gatsby Name Class Affiliation Instructor Date Question Although Gatsby invents himself anew, The Great Gatsby is really a tale of modernist mourning and the inability to put the past behind. Do you agree? Introduction From an idea planned and developed in 1922 the Great Gatsby was finally released later on in 1924 when its author Fitzgerald was in Riviera. The impeccable ideology behind the development of this novel is perhaps outstanding from the fact that it is developed at an ideal time considering the theme behind the development of the novel. This is further reinforced by the choice of protagonist in Nick Carraway who tells about his summer that he spent with Gatsby through his writing (Weinstein 1993, 142). It is during this time in the twenties when the novel was written that people’s lives were characterized by abnormally wayward characters such as excessive partying, flappers among others. The character James Gatz also known as Jay Gatsby is a character completely opposite of the people who are characteristically stagnated and unsuccessful making him the epitome of a lot of speculation and gossip. Fitzgerald cleverly uses Nick Carraway to narrate and bring out the theme of the story by allowing him to exemplify the greatness of Gatsby. In order for the author Fitzgerald to bring out the story it was critically important that Gatsby’s greatness is well brought out (Donaldson 1984, p. 72). This is because the storyline of the book is developed along the theme of appearance which is actualized by will. Throughout the novel we are presented with a Gatsby character that is desperately working out ways to forge a reality which would actualize his dream (Lockridge 1968, p. 45). It is a scenario simply put of Gatsby trying to create something of him from nothing which is basically the the author Fitzgerald is trying to make of the character. However the question is this actual idea shared by the readers of the book? Is the thinking of the readers likened to that of the narrator Nick Carraway? If not so how does the narration of Nick Carraway contribute to the perceptions of the readers? Belief, Reality in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a book developed with the usual traditional touch of writing involving the development of life by chronologically developing the life of the author through the different stages especially so the education (Forter 2007, p. 239). So having gone through all this and getting the education in the right measure to be able to make something of him the protagonist in the book does instead have a contrary feeling. Armed with education the expectation of many is that the character will seek to enrich himself and making something of a name for him through accumulation of a lot of material wealth. All this are supposed to give him fulfillment and a sense of contentment in the achievements and great strides made about life (Forter 2007, p. 257). However rather than indulging in this feeling the character develops a sense of resentment because of the emptiness of the so called high society because of the compromised morals which are tagged to it. Nick Carraway upon his return to the Midwest cannot hide his disappointment and concern by highlighting how much he does not really want to know the foundation of morals but rather wanting uniformity in the moral standing of the society ((Weinstein 1993, 137). The narrator Nick Carraway presents a disillusioned character that has very minimal expectations if not no expectations at all. What Nick does is to give his opinions and position based on the generation as a whole rather than focus on individuals. For him the world as a whole is compromised morally and is lacking the few good outstanding individuals notwithstanding. He talks of thirties which will be more problematic due to the compromised twenties through which he has lived in. This is an opinion given based on a general outlook of the world rather than the individual consideration. This is something that brings out the elements of evil and ill of the society as a whole in the past which affected the other people (Gross & Gross 1998, p. 147). Past as a mirror in The Great Gatsby Throughout the novel the author maintains an outlook of a world that is so appealing and attempting. The novel is centered on the magnification of greatness and this is why it presents a big dream in which Gatsby is desperate to actualize. This is therefore pointing to one of the possible themes of believed. In the novel the power of belief is what one of the themes that are presented is ((Weinstein 1993, 131). Gatsby is a character that puts so much belief in what he does and this is best brought out in the case of Daisy for instance. In believing in himself Gatsby is also increasing the confidence of the people who belief in him as well. The author of the Great Gatsby chooses to develop his themes and message from the actions of Gatsby as an individual and the way these actions are affecting the other people who are around him. It is important at this point to note that Gatsby is not a real character but rather a fictitious character developed with a lot of words meant to create an imaginary character that can be able to put across the intended message of the author (Forter 2007, p. 249). Much of the ideas that we have about Gatsby is developed based on the myths and perceptions that other people have about him (Bewley 2009, p. 30). The mystery and accelerated quality of life that Gatsby lives points out clearly to a character that has been exalted beyond the actual self perhaps to meet the expectations of the character idealized by the people for the sake of the author Fitzgerald to be able to put his message across to the ready (Cowley 2007, p. 35). A lot is put forward about him and much comparisons of him are done while he is also being linked to other people as well perhaps due to his endowment (Bloomfield 2010, p. 98). At some point he is thought to be the nephew of Van Hindenburg who was a German spy back then in the war. Others also likened him to the Oxford man, a bootlegger and even a killer, Daisy likens him to an advertisement of a man (Churchwell 2014, p. 81). Perhaps the use of the images in the story is also aimed at helping to show how much reflecting on his past takes place in this book. Elements of bitterness arise when one reflects on the past and the elements of it. It is said that Henry Gatz is more found and treasures the photographs that he has of the son simply because “more real to him now than the house itself” (Fitzgerald 1990, p. 134). This clearly highlights how much the author appreciates the difference between the reality and the photo which is just a representation of the reality which is on this case in the past. Daisy is also a victim of the same as well and notes that there are times on a particular afternoon when Daisy could not actualize the dream and fell short although she does not blame herself for this because it is as she puts it a colossal vitality of an illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feature that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghostly heart.” Gatsby seemed to attach different events with different emotions like for instance the parties in which he thinks that they are theatrical especially due to the fact that there are partygoers for hire ready to indulge when called upon which according to him was a pointer to imaginations of being well off ((Weinstein 1993, 142). Gatsby smiles and notes that: “It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it that may come across four or five times in life... It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey”( Fitzgerald 1990, p. 49). Gatsby’s character illustrates persona who is artistic as well and giving out a social aspect who demonstrates that origins do not count much but instead the charming aspects and the resulting belief are the things that matter most (Johnson 2008, p. 43). The Great Gatsby revolves around comparison of the power and belief elements of the society. Nick in the book is a narrator who is virtually an observer who is rather reluctant in taking part in the activities of the story. This is a story that mirrors the past and the ills of the past by mourning on the implications of the past (Weinstein 1993, 134). The stories reflect on the idea of beliefs being the elements that make up the world’s greatness. In the novel the scenario presented is one whereby an individual is able to overcome all the challenges and push beyond the origin to forge a completely new world of his own. It is pointed out in the book that the world is in a flux due to the dynamic nature of the culture and this is one of the major challenges affecting the development of the world especially the elements of race as well as culture (Warner et al 2006, p. 73). Take for instance the reflection on the scenario where the dead body in a hearse is beautified with a lot of flowers and accompanied to carriages in which two blinds are also carried while another set of carriages tagging along carrying friends who seem to be most cheerful. Nick appreciates the stare of the friends as an inclusion of Gatsby’s ride in the sad mood. At Blackwell Nick Laughs at the site of limousine which was being driven by a chauffeur who is white and with three Negroes described as modish with a girl and two bucks as an equal but funny rivalry of their ride (Fitzgerald 1990, p. 67) References Primary references Fitzgerald, F. Scott.The Great Gatsby. 1926; London: Penguin, 1990.  Secondary references Bewley, M. “Fitzgerald’s View of Class and the American Dream”.Johnson 30-23. Bloomfield, J. The Great Gatsby: Study Guide and Student Workbook. Dayton: BMI Educational Services. 2010. Print. Churchwell S. Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of The Great Gatsby. United States of America: Penguin Group US, 2014. 67 – 99. Cowley, M. “The Class Consumerism of Fitzgerald’s Life”. Johnson 35-31. Donaldson, Scott, ed. Critical Essays on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1984. Forter, Greg. "Against Melancholia: Contemporary Mourning Theory, Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, and the Politics of Unfinished Grief," Modernism and Mourning. Ed. Patricia Rae. Lewisburg: Bucknell UP, 2007. 239-59. Gross D. & Gross M. Understanding The Great Gatsby: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. United States of America: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998. 145 – 187. Johnson, C. ed. Class Conflict in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press. 2008. Print. Lockridge, Ernest, ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of The Great Gatsby. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1968. Warner W. L., Meeker, M. & Eells. K. “What Social Class Is in America”. Social Class and Stratification–Classic Statements and Theoretical Debates. Ed. Levine, Rhonda F. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 2006. 67-92. Print. Weinstein, Arnold. "Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby: Fiction as Greatness," Nobody's Home: Speech, Self, and Place in American Fiction from Hawthorne to DeLillo. New York: Oxford UP, 1993. 131-47. Read More

Gatsby is a character that puts so much belief in what he does and this is best brought out in the case of Daisy for instance. In believing in himself Gatsby is also increasing the confidence of the people who belief in him as well. The author of the Great Gatsby chooses to develop his themes and message from the actions of Gatsby as an individual and the way these actions are affecting the other people who are around him. It is important at this point to note that Gatsby is not a real character but rather a fictitious character developed with a lot of words meant to create an imaginary character that can be able to put across the intended message of the author (Forter 2007, p. 249). Much of the ideas that we have about Gatsby is developed based on the myths and perceptions that other people have about him (Bewley 2009, p. 30). The mystery and accelerated quality of life that Gatsby lives points out clearly to a character that has been exalted beyond the actual self perhaps to meet the expectations of the character idealized by the people for the sake of the author Fitzgerald to be able to put his message across to the ready (Cowley 2007, p. 35). A lot is put forward about him and much comparisons of him are done while he is also being linked to other people as well perhaps due to his endowment (Bloomfield 2010, p. 98). At some point he is thought to be the nephew of Van Hindenburg who was a German spy back then in the war.

Others also likened him to the Oxford man, a bootlegger and even a killer, Daisy likens him to an advertisement of a man (Churchwell 2014, p. 81). Perhaps the use of the images in the story is also aimed at helping to show how much reflecting on his past takes place in this book. Elements of bitterness arise when one reflects on the past and the elements of it. It is said that Henry Gatz is more found and treasures the photographs that he has of the son simply because “more real to him now than the house itself” (Fitzgerald 1990, p. 134). This clearly highlights how much the author appreciates the difference between the reality and the photo which is just a representation of the reality which is on this case in the past.

Daisy is also a victim of the same as well and notes that there are times on a particular afternoon when Daisy could not actualize the dream and fell short although she does not blame herself for this because it is as she puts it a colossal vitality of an illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feature that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghostly heart.

” Gatsby seemed to attach different events with different emotions like for instance the parties in which he thinks that they are theatrical especially due to the fact that there are partygoers for hire ready to indulge when called upon which according to him was a pointer to imaginations of being well off ((Weinstein 1993, 142). Gatsby smiles and notes that: “It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it that may come across four or five times in life. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey”( Fitzgerald 1990, p. 49). Gatsby’s character illustrates persona who is artistic as well and giving out a social aspect who demonstrates that origins do not count much but instead the charming aspects and the resulting belief are the things that matter most (Johnson 2008, p. 43). The Great Gatsby revolves around comparison of the power and belief elements of the society.

Nick in the book is a narrator who is virtually an observer who is rather reluctant in taking part in the activities of the story. This is a story that mirrors the past and the ills of the past by mourning on the implications of the past (Weinstein 1993, 134).

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