Examples Of Privilege In The Great Gatsby
Rosealynn B. Hernandez
Mrs. Centorame
ENG4U1
19 April 2023
Step Back to See the Bigger Picture Wealth, status and privilege are multifaceted societal constructs that habitually contrast human expectations. As fairly moral beings, humans prefer the idea of the treatment they receive being impartial, however, the reality is that different people possess different ranges of privilege. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick Carraway is a benefactor of the extra privileges afforded to people of the aristocratic class. He is a man who decides to pursue a future that is independent from the inherited riches his ancestors passed onto family. As a result of his new desire for independence, he begins his journey towards both West
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Consequences are necessary in society to deter people from committing consequential actions, hence the existence of laws. On the other hand, despite the law existing for everyone, the selective group of people who are spared from the justice system do so by reinforcing the existence of their superior power in society. For example, Nick Carraway witnesses his aristocratic cousin, Daisy avoids any punishment for a grievous crime she commits, and should face a punishment for. With the help of her husband Tom, they both use their power to shift the blame onto an innocent bystander. After witnessing their self-servient actions, Nick finally says “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness”(Fitzgerald 182). With his statement, Nick evokes an infuriated tone that could only come with uncovering people of his class who abuse their power, in order to yield more benefits for themselves. Unlike the bourgeoisie class, the aristocrats are still provided a chance in the world where they can work less but still be given more opportunities without facing any judgement; ultimately proving that equal opportunity is either limited or unrestricted by one’s overall status in society. Fortunately, an element of human life that is not always restricted by class are …show more content…
Overall, being friends motivates any person to notice a problem and deeply understand how it affects their friend or anybody. In particular, Nick Carraway befriends his outgoing and extravagant neighbour Mr Gatsby despite their gap in class. Nonetheless, Nick knew his friend to be a generally good man who did not deserve the end he received; it was an end that was facilitated by the outrageous amount of power given to the upper class. During his call with his love interest, their change in priorities and morals causes Nick Carraway to say “I don't know which of us hung up with a sharp click, but I know I didn't care”(Fitzgerald 157). Getting to know Gatsby has a heavy effect on Nick after Gatsby dies, regardless of their distinct classes. This importance was not an idea shared by the person who called him, therefore, Nick chooses to stand by his friend who deserves to be remembered instead of proceeding a call with an aristocratic woman who unjustly equated Mr. Gatsby worth with his
Examples Of Obsession In The Great Gatsby
1008 Words | 5 PagesNick takes this to heart, when he first meets Gatsby he admits that Gatsby is a likable person and is in awe of his wealth. Yet he does not yet see him as a fully developed person. It is not until the end when he learns about Gatsby’s struggles to get to the point at which he is at that he gains a sense of understanding. Yet, Nick is one of the first to notice Gatsby’s destructive nature to achieve his goal of being with Daisy. Nick also has a disdain for the ones who were born rich and did not value the privilege that they have been handed on a silver platter.
Examples Of Poverty In The Great Gatsby
1373 Words | 6 PagesDaisy chooses to run away from the situation with the man who constantly cheats on her both openly and privately. To think how Gatsby held true to dying with the lie of him being at fault for the accident, which allows Daisy’s appearance to be untouched, emphasizes how insincere it was for her to not show an ounce of gratitude towards him by not making a mere gesture of appreciation, even at his funeral. Both Daisy and Gatsby, according to Meekin’s words on social poverty, would be considered socially poor as neither of them had a genuine relationship. Daisy wasn’t there for Gatsby when he needed her to be, and Gatsby only made the sacrifices he did for Daisy because he loved what she represented. When this is compared to the time
Examples Of Middle Class In The Great Gatsby
1057 Words | 5 PagesIn society, the wealthy seem to live in a different world as the majority of people do not interact with them. Although there is little interaction between the middle and upper class, the middle class often deal with results or by products of the wealthy’s lifestyle and actions. Over the course of history, the middle class has come to accept this and expect this of the rich. The narrator of The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway, recalls events from his life revolving around his interactions with the upper class in the 1920s. He describes their actions, and he characterizes them as greedy and self-centered.
Examples Of Inequality In The Great Gatsby
490 Words | 2 PagesScott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby addresses the inequality of income distribution and class differences in 1920s America. This article aims to describe the graphic illustration of this situation, which is also referred to as “the Great Gatsby Curve”. This curve demonstrates that countries with higher unequal income distribution are more likely to have lower levels of social mobility, which means that in those countries it is challenging for people from low income families to increase their social mobility and to improve their economic status in the society. While the article excludes explaining other countries’ place in the curve, the article’s correlation between family income and social mobility is mostly valid since it demonstrates the hardships for low income families to economically grow when income inequality levels are high.
Examples Of Heroism In The Great Gatsby
1316 Words | 6 Pages(Fitzgerald 116). Although Gatsby desperately wants to hear anything but this, Nick tries to bring reason to his longing soul. His vehement attempts to give Gatsby truth, even though they aren’t the closest of acquaintainces, paints an accurate picture of Nick’s heroic character. He does what is in his power to dissuade Gatsby from making the mistake of chasing the past that will uproot his and his love’s lives and make them irreparable. In this instance, Nick strives for the emotional protection from poor decisions, however he also advises against riskily putting oneself in physical danger.
Riches In The Great Gatsby
864 Words | 4 PagesGatsby’s sacrifice and ability to throw himself under the bus for the sake of someone else demonstrates his selflessness and dignity. Furthermore, Gatsby’s greatness can come from his loyalty and moral towards certain characters. For example, Gatsby treats Carraway as a brother. For all Carraway has done to help with reuniting with Daisy, Gatsby offers to help Nick become richer with “a little business on the side” (Fitzgerald 82). Gatsby builds a trustful relationship with Nick and is willing to do anything that helps Nick.
Examples Of Imagery In The Great Gatsby
974 Words | 4 PagesGatsby’s love for Daisy is all-consuming, to the point where he is willing to sacrifice other parts of his life for her. Gatsby sacrifices his social life because he spends too much time focusing on Daisy to make any real friends, even though he appears to have many. After Gatsby’s death, many people were expected to show up to his funeral, but his only true friend Nick was the only one who came. Nick waited for more people to show up “But it wasn’t any use. Nobody came” (Fitzgerald 174).
Examples Of Privilege In The Great Gatsby
621 Words | 3 PagesIn the Great Gatsby, privilege comes into play. Privilege in this context means being born with advantages that you did not earn or work for. Some people have to work to get their money but others are born with money which means that they didn’t have to work for their money. Gatsby for example was not born with money. He had to make his own money by selling and dealing drugs and is now a very wealthy man.
Examples Of Social Status In The Great Gatsby
383 Words | 2 PagesHave you ever noticed someone getting bullied for not having money, or their social status? Whether it is online or in person. We all have seen some type of this in one way or the other. The book, The Great Gatsby, is a great example of this. Tom makes fun of Gatsby to degrade him in front of Daisy.
How Does Daisy's Past Change Throughout The Great Gatsby
864 Words | 4 PagesNick’s impression of Gatsby is ironic for it is not Gatsby’s wealth and social status that fascinates him but instead his foolish emotion of love. Through his secret, most likely illegal scandals, he pretends to belong to the same social class as Tom Buchanan and his wife Daisy, Gatsby’s one love. If he wants a girl like Daisy Buchanan, he knows he could not be the broke farmer from Minnesota he once was. His poverty stricken prior life holds no value for him and his dream. His penniless past fueled his entry into the army.
Examples Of Decent In The Great Gatsby
921 Words | 4 PagesIt happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing.” (83) This just goes to show that Gatsby really does put others in front of himself, or does it? Beginning to think on it we come to realize that these generous offers may be considered selfish, as in the end it only benefits himself. Nick Caraway, our narrator, should not be left out of the mix in accordance to defining decent characters. He states that “Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.”
Nick Carraway Routine In The Great Gatsby
785 Words | 4 PagesTowards the end of chapter three in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick Carraway recalls his daily routine, which not only consists of going to work early in the morning and late aimless walks alone down the avenues, but also tells of Nick’s internal clash between wanting friends and the lack of effort he puts into establishing and sustaining a relationship. Fitzgerald describes Nick as a confused man, who’s delusional about how close he is to people he considers friends, which causes him to be restless and sad; often left to wander the streets for something to do Nick defaults to inaction, only observing and imagining what he desires. In this section, Fitzgerald portrays Nick as excited about having friends at work, although the
Examples Of Social Class In The Great Gatsby
537 Words | 3 Pages“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 179). This quote captures the advantages the upper class has because of their money. Tom and Daisy’s actions left three people dead, yet they received no punishments .They put all their baggage on the lower class, and left them to pick up the pieces. In The Great Gatsby, the theme of social class is very significant in the book. Scott F. Fitzgerald used the theme of social class to show the reader that it plays a much bigger role in life.
Nick Carraway's Deception In The Great Gatsby
1201 Words | 5 PagesRecounting heartbreak, betrayal, and deception, F. Scott Fitzgerald paints a bleak picture in the 1920’s novel The Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, witnesses the many lies others weave in order to achieve their dreams. However, the greatest deception he encounters is the one he lives. Not having a true dream, Nick instead finds purpose by living vicariously through others, and he loses that purpose when they are erased from his life.
Examples Of Sexuality In The Great Gatsby
1142 Words | 5 PagesThis relationship was fascinating in terms of its state, it was brotherly in some instances, fatherly in others but overall it possessed a romantic and breathless characteristic of hope. This is evident as we witness Nick’s immediate curiosity and admiration for Gatsby. Nick’s fascination began at the start of the novel as he wonders, “If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him (Gatsby)”. (Fitzgerald 3). Gatsby made Nick feel hopeful and magnificent, this kind of hope was romantic and orgasmic in a sense, because of the way in which he
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