Decadence In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Francis Scott Fitgerald has a very curious life as a short story writer and a novelist. He is well known, and has the most success, for his novel, The Great Gatsby. Erika Willett writes, "The Fitzgeralds enjoyed fame and fortune, and his novels reflected their lifestyle, describing in semi-autobiographical fiction the privileged lives of wealthy, aspiring socialites. Fitzgerald wrote his second novel - "The Beautiful and the Damned" a year after they were married. Three years later, after the birth of their first and only child, Scottie, Fitzgerald completed his best-known work: "The Great Gatsby."

They represented the moral decay and the increase of shallow characteristics. Although characters such as Nick and Gatsby had just as money as the Buchanans, they were segregated and were placed in West Egg. West Egg was often defined as “new money”, money derived from hard work, the “rags to riches story”. Those that live in the West Egg were portrayed as less sophisticated, which is seen from the different types of parties held throughout the novel. The first party mentioned in the novel was Tom Buchanan’s party; it had less people, less decoration, and less entertainment, more simplistic.

Obsession can develop in many ways, whether it is a love interest, a dream job, obsession can form for many reasons. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, he explores society’s infatuation with the American Dream of obtaining wealth and the consequences of that dream. Fitzgerald’s novel tells the story of Nick Carraway, the narrator, who moves to the wealthy neighborhood of West Egg. Nick becomes curious about Gatsby, his neighbor, and learns that Gatsby is pursuing Daisy, the wife of Tom Buchanan. This leads to a rivalry between Tom, an old college friend from Yale, and Gatsby where Fitzgerald warns of the consequences of obsession with a dream through the power struggle between the two characters.

“The American Dream” is an idea integral to the work ethic and overall ideals of the United States; simply put: the idea is that through hard work, the opportunity for prosperity and success is possible for anybody in America. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the 1925 novel The Great Gatsby as a critique of the rampant materialism and declining moral values he witnessed post-World War I. The novel tells the story of a man named Nick Carraway, who gets a glimpse of the frivolous, lavish lifestyles of New York’s elite, including that of the hopelessly hopeful Jay Gatsby; Gatsby is willing to do anything to win over the heart of the woman he loves, the unattainable Daisy Buchanan. Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too, Sing America” was published in pre-Civil Rights United States (a hotbed of racism) and serves as his patriotic declaration that African-Americans will one day achieve equality in the United States and also be able to live the American Dream.

Daisy is a perfect example to illustrate this attitude. When Gatsby leaves Daisy, she promises to wait for him, but she breaks her own promise and marries Tom Buchanan whose “family were enormously wealthy—even in college his freedom with money was a matter for reproach” so as to stabilize her status in the upper class society (Fitzgerald 8). She is a superficial, sardonic and beautiful woman with “an absurd, charming little laugh” who knows how to make full use of her advantages to improve her own life (Fitzgerald 11). She is “warm, feverish, thrilling, intoxicating—a siren, an enchantress, a blossoming flower” who draws the attention of everyone (Baker). With the support from her family, she betrays Gatsby and marries Tom Buchannan not out of love but out of realistic concern.

Hunting is a skillful sport. “The most dangerous game” written by Richard Cornell show that the hunters can become the hunted. Zaroff demonstrates that he is rich, clever, and quick. First Zaroff is a very rich individual. “So I bought this island (pg 224)” his father had a quarter of a million acres.

He focused on getting money and daisy more that he focused on what things REALLY made him happy. When Nick invited Daisy to Gatsbys was when gatsby started to glow. He becomes a whole new person. Jay already had part of the american dream.

The company growth strategy was based on the use of the company stock for new acquisitions, as a result the company officials found it extremely important to meet Wall Street’s expectations of what the company earnings should be. Charismatic leaders can be self-centered and manipulative in the means they use to achieve their goals (Parry & Proctor-Thomson, 2002). Ebbers used this situation to create a culture that gave birth to the

These residents are also wealthy, but have obtained their wealth in a much different way than the East Eggers have. West Egg residents have had to work for their money, usually through entrepreneurship. This is the sole reason why East Eggers place them in a lower spot on the social totem pole, and shun those who attempt to be one of them. This then causes social stratification between the two Eggs. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s commentary on social stratification in The Great Gatsby greatly ties to the social stratification of the 1920’s.

What really is the American Dream? It seems to be a very simple concept, everyone in America has an equal opportunity and that opportunity is to work hard and become wealthy. But is the American Dream actually possible for everybody and is wealth the only factor? In The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night both male protagonists become very wealthy individuals seemingly because of the idea of the American Dream however they still encounter many issues. Through the aspirations and subsequent failures of the protagonists in The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night, F. Scott Fitzgerald makes a commentary on the American Dream, conveying to the reader that the American Dream is just an unattainable and fictitious idea, focusing on material wealth rather than happiness.

Donald Bren is the well-known real estate mogul who Forbes describes as the richest real estate developer in the world. His reputation spans across the nation for his tactics and his practical know-how in the industry of real estate. He was able to turn himself into this wealthy character through hard work and dedication which is required to reach the billionaire status that he currently holds. Donald was born May 11th, 1932 in Las Angeles, California to Marion and Milton Bren. Donald’s parents were also accomplished people, probably to which he received his motivation to do well in life.

In the novel the Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald creates a main character that catches the attention of his readers that goes by Jay Gatsby although originally named James Gatz. He is the main character of the novel who is the namesake of the novel. Gatsby is a wealthy Bootlegger from North Dakota that moved to Long Island who pursues one thing and that is Daisy Buchanan, the love he lost five years earlier to another millionaire. He is very self conscious and cares very much about his outward appearance to the public. His quest for the American dream leads him from poverty to wealth, and to the love of his life as well as his death.

“The Great Gatsby” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” both focus on the common theme of pursuing goals and living the American Dream. As well as leaving behind the past and “turn a new leaf”. The main characters in each story, Blanche and Gatsby, both have dreams of wealth and great living.

The book introduces a similarity of wealth for the two settings; however, this reveals an ironic situation. The American Dream indicates that hard work earns you wealth (big house), but this is not the case for Nick or Daisy. They both portray the opposite of the American Dream showing its decline. A grand comparison is made to the amount of effort put in by both characters and the size of their house. Nick is a small town man who has come from a wealthy family like Daisy.

He wants to be as rich and famous as Gatsby. He wants to learn, and Gatsby is willing to teach him. In conclusion, Gatsby fascinates Nick because of his fame and money. Gatsby went from being a normal poor person to a well-known millionaire.