ipl-logo

Stereotypes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

948 Words4 Pages

The Great Gatsby takes place in a predominantly white and wealthy region. Although it is not very explicitly stated, characters in the novel do possess opinions on certain ethnicities and what they think about them.
Gatsby is believed to have had an impact on the ideas presented by some of the characters in the book, primarily Nick.
Gatsby’s possesses racist opinions that are picked up on by Nick where he heavily emphasizes the idea of the people living in the Eggs, or certain races, as being superior during his narration.
In F Scott Fitzgerald’s book The Great Gatsby, characters portray themselves and their friends as superior in the luxurious world they live in. The narrator of the story, Nick, often describes characters with a different …show more content…

Throughout the novel Nick’s narration centers itself around Gatsby actions and thoughts. Nick acts like a right hand man for Gatsby and is one of his only true friends during the plot. Nick always showed up at Gatsby’s parties and often times acted in a very similar fashion to him. It is mentioned that Gatsby had an attitude similar to a southerner at this time. During the 1920s southerners had a very toxic opinion on minority groups in the US. Nick did have a distorted view of Meyer Wolfsheim which is a result of his southerner and racist thinking. Due to Gatsby and Nick being around each other so much, and Nick’s admiration for Gatsby, Nick inherited some of Gatsby’s opinions and …show more content…

What is known, however, is that this novel is set in the 1920s, a time that is still pretty recent to slavery and harnesses a society that is rude to minorities. Since the characters in this book are by no reasons children, they should all have a solid understanding and potentially grave opinion on racism. Jay Gatsby presents himself as a mysterious character that really only cares about one thing, his jewel, Daisy. Gatsby and the others also live in a predominantly european area so it is not easy to see blatant ethnic battles during the novel; however, Meyer Wolfsheim is distorted as a character by Nick. This is believed to be a byproduct of being friends with Gatsby and adopting some of his

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Ambiguity In The Great Gatsby

    1098 Words  | 5 Pages

    Earlier in the novel, Nick notes in shock as a white chauffeur drives “three modish negroes” across the Queensborough bridge and reflects that anything can happen including this and even Gatsby (69). The fact that Nick is surprised that the chauffeur is white and the Negroes are fashionable and modern suggests that Nick has, like many others, fallen into the belief that these things were not possible and a little uncomfortable in their white society. Another example is Nick’s obsession with Meyer Wolfsheim’s nose and how it seems to come alive all its own because of Nick’s persistent focus on it. He states: “A small, flat-nosed Jew raised his large head and regarded me with two fine growths of hair which luxuriated in either nostril” (69).

    Read More

  • How Does Fitzgerald Tell The Story In Chapter 1 Of The Great Gatsby

    1119 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nick’s impression of Gatsby

    Read More

  • Fuecurity In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

    651 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the height of American opulence, the extravagant lives of New York City’s elite, and the dramatic affairs that arise within them are highlighted in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 20th century classic, “The Great Gatsby”. On a steaming day in the summer of 1922, the novels observant protagonist Nick Carraway, lounges amongst his companions in a hotel suite, as tensions rise between Tom Buchanan and his wife's love interest, Jay Gatsby. In this passage, through Toms verbal belittling of Gatsby and Nicks critical observations, Fitzgerald indirectly characterizes Tom, exemplifying his insecurity from threats to his masculinity and status. The passage centers around a one-sidedly antagonistic conversation between Tom and Gatsby that comes after Tom

    Read More

  • Examples Of Isolationism In The Great Gatsby

    803 Words  | 4 Pages

    He did not accept where he had came from ,and felt that his history must be more important. In chapter six, the protagonist and narrator of the novel, Nick, informs the readers that Gatsby’s parents were “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people”

    Read More

  • Subconscious Decisions In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

    675 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the book, Nick seems to be Gatsby’s superego, as he gives him many warnings and judgements in an attempt that what seems like to teach Gatsby how to behave properly. As Nick says, “…Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.  I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth.” (2). Fitzgerald comes right out and says this and more at the beginning of the book, almost as if to clearly explain the reader that Nick is a very good judge of people and is a near-perfect narrator to this story.

    Read More

  • Identity In The Great Gatsby

    728 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though he may not be genetically white, he tends to hide his physical appearance and tries to act as if he ‘’fits in’’. On page 54 Nick describes Gatsby, ‘’His tanned skin was drawn attractively tight on his face and his short hair looked as though it were trimmed every day’’. Gatsby also seems to throw lavish parties at his mansion but then does not participate in any of the drinking or partying. It is not because he is anti-social Nick is impressed with his social skill when they talk at the party so the only real reason he would be throwing these parties is just to fit

    Read More

  • Theme Of Racism In The Great Gatsby

    317 Words  | 2 Pages

    Racism in The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the Great Gatsby in the mid-1920's, where some of the comments people said about the races would be seen as offensive or degrading. I think the reason Fitzgerald included these comments was because of the time period he wrote the story. There are several times in the story where he makes he The characters he portrays as "racist" in my opinion would be Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan. In my eyes, Tom is more of a racist then Nick.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Initial Trust Analysis

    687 Words  | 3 Pages

    Trust is very important in relationships. It is the basis for relationships. It influences what you think about others. When just beginning a relationship there is a lot of initial trust. In The Great Gatsby the beginning tells of Gatsby, and how he is shrouded in mystery and gossip.

    Read More

  • Stereotypes Of Women In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

    1215 Words  | 5 Pages

    Have you ever wondered what the stereotypes of women were in the 1920’s? Well, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, there are three different types of stereotypes for women. In this book, a man named Nick Carraway moves near a billionaire who goes by the name Gatsby. Gatsby hosts many parties which include many different types of people, such as gold diggers, golden girls, and the new women. Throughout this book, Nick gets to meet all three types of these girls, and gets to spend time with them.

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In The Great Gatsby

    1244 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Great Gatsby is hailed as a great piece of 1920 's fiction due to its detailing of a new, fast paced America, and the way that America affected the population. These affects manifested as traits in people, and further developed into stereotypes. In the post World War 1 America this novel is set in, industry and technology were becoming readily available to the public, cementing these stereotypes into our population as we quickly moved along at a new pace. In The Great Gatsby, these people, actions, and relationships, are represented by the four main characters: Nick, Daisy, Tom, and Jay. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses these characters to symbolize the stereotypical people of a modern America.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On The Great Gatsby

    803 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the course of the book, Nick starts off open-minded, but gradually becomes disgusted with everyone he meets. Nick saw mostly everyone only thinking of themselves and trying to pursue "The American Dream", a staple of the 1920s. The one person Nick liked was Gatsby, because

    Read More

  • Ethnicity In The Great Gatsby

    964 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Great Gatsby takes place in Long Island, New York, as well as New York City and a segment between the two, known as the “valley of ashes.” Each area represents a different aspect of society during the 1920s. East Egg, the area in which Daisy and Tom live, represents the upper class that comes from established or “old” money. West Egg is home to people such as Gatsby, who have recently become rich. The valley, home to the lower classes, is a filthy, run-down place.

    Read More

  • Attitudes In The Great Gatsby

    951 Words  | 4 Pages

    In The Great Gatsby, we learn more and more about the characters, Gatsby and Nick, as the story unravels deeper. Although these characters seem to have many differences, they have more in common than recognized. Throughout the novel, we see some corresponding traits between Gatsby and Nick. Despite these two having somewhat indistinguishable attitudes towards women and desires, they differ in their class, and their outlook and temperament. Gatsby and Nick in a way have the same desire and approach towards women.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Queer Theory Analysis

    635 Words  | 3 Pages

    Frances Pool-Crane C 3/4 English II 11 January 2017 Queer Theory and The Great Gatsby "Keep your hands off the lever" snapped the elevator boy. "I'll beg your pardon," said Mr. McKee with dignity, "I didn't know I was touching it". "All right," I agreed ... I was standing beside the bed and he was between the sheets."

    Read More

  • Aristocracy In The Great Gatsby

    1874 Words  | 8 Pages

    The Demise of the American Aristocracy Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby takes place in the 1920s’ elite New York spheres where East Eggers’ family riches represent the aristocracy, while West Eggers epitomize nouveau riche. Within this New York world the color white appears in the East Egg, whereas outside this bubble the absence and desire for white is prevalent. The narrative is told through the eyes of Nick, a West Egg transplant, who immerses himself into the social scene, interacting with both East and West Eggers. Nick’s cousin is Daisy, who is married to Tom and friends with Jordan, who provide the East Egg perspective.

    Read More

More about Stereotypes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Open Document