Jake Harris

Period 2-3
The Great Gatsby
F. Scotts Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby focuses on the lives of the
wealthy on Long Island, New York in the 1920s. The story is told through the
observations and experiences of a young man named Nick Caraway. The
events which unfold are filled with love, jealousy, and murder among other
things. But underneath the fictional story of the characters lives lies subtle
historical validity. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald captures the essence of
the 1920s United States.
One key factor that Fitzgerald depicted in his novel were the political
events and climate of the United States. Just two years after World War I had
ended, Warren G. Harding was elected as the 29th President. Today,
Hardings administration is viewed as one of the worst administrations in
United States history, as the administration was the central figure in
multiple scandals including the Teapot Dome Scandal from 1921-1922, as
well its support of management in labor disputes as in the Great Railroad
Strike of 1922. In addition, Hardings administration enacted taxation
legislation that favored the upper class and helped the wealthy maintain
their economic position. As minimum wages dropped, populations moved
away from mining and agricultural industries and towards the urban areas.
The failure of American citizens of the lower class to find jobs led to a mass
development of housing outside of these cities.

Fitzgerald illustrates this inequitable class-based housing through his

description of the people and geological layout of The Great Gatsbys The
Valley of Ashes. Characters like George and Myrtle Wilson embody the
lower class populace and the state of their interactions with the other
classes. In an interaction between Tom Buchanan, a wealthy man living in
East Egg, and George Wilson, Tom threatens not to sell George his car.
George quickly apologizes for his prior statements that might have offended
Tom, and retreats into silence. This demonstrates how the upper class felt
they controlled the lower classes, and how the lower classes assumed a role
of inferiority simply in order to survive.
A visual and symbolic landmark that is brought up more than once
throughout the novel are the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg which appear on
an advertisement for eye glasses outside of George Wilsons garage. By the
narration of Nick Caraway, Fitzgerald describes the billboard in detail stating,
His eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood
on over the solemn dumping ground. (26) Fitzgerald frequently returns to
the advertisement, especially when events of the novel center on those of
the lower classes. It can be inferred, through the conversation between
George Wilson and Michaelis, that the eyes are viewed as a form of God.
When speaking of his recently deceased wife, George said, I spoke to her. I
told her she might fool me but she couldnt fool God. I took her to the
window . Utilizing the advertisement as a symbolic tool, Fitzgerald
suggests the replacement of religion with capitalism within the United States.

Additionally, Fitzgerald reveals the materialistic views of the upper

classes through his descriptions of their acts of lavish parties and
demonstrations. Nick Caraway chronicles this unnecessary spending in his
description of one of Gatsbys parties stating, On buffet tables, garnished
with glistening horsdoeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of
harlequin design and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold. In the
main hall a bar with a real brass rail was set up, and stocked with gins and
liquors and with cordials so long forgotten that most of his female guests
were too young to know one from another. (44) Gatsbys lavish and
excessive lifestyle further reveals the division between the economic classes.
Fitzgerald alludes to a green light twice at the end of a dock twice in
the novel. Nick describes the lights first appearance along with the first
appearance of Gatsby saying, He (Gatsby) stretched out his arms toward
the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn
he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward and distinguished
nothing except a single green light, minute and far away. (25) Later in the
novel the reader learns that the green light had been emitted from Daisys
dock, meaning that Gatsby was reaching towards something he desired.
Fitzgeralds choice of the lights description as minute and far away gives
the impression that Gatsby is reaching for something distant and, most
likely, unattainable. A situation of desperation can be appreciated for the
people of the Valley of Ashes. Initially, these people attempted to fulfill the
American Dream by moving to the city and making a living for themselves.

But these families fell short, and were essentially tethered to the ash-filled
wasteland. Fitzgerald concludes the novel summarizing, Gatsby believed in
the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It
eluded us then, but thats no matter. (193) Through the residents of the
Valley of Ashes and the green light, Fitzgerald portrays the unreachable
American Dream of the 1920s.
Throughout the novel Fitzgerald continuously references the tension
between the West and East Egg. The aristocracy of East Egg, feeling
superior to the new wealth of West Egg, highlight the difference between
groups through the East Eggs subtle acts of distaste. One distinction
between the two Eggs are the personalities. The newly rich are portrayed
throughout the novel as being flamboyant, frequently failing to act properly
in given social circumstances. Gatsby shows characteristics of both of the
social/economic classifications through his numerous parties filled with
various foods, yet his inability to pick up on social queues. For example,
after Tom and a couple insincerely extend an invitation to dine with them,
Gatsby quickly accepts. When Gatsby leaves the group to prepare for the
dinner, Tom Buchanan exclaims, My God, I believe the mans coming.
Doesnt he know she doesnt want him? (111) Fitzgerald insinuates the new
money group as undeserving of wealth as their actions are more suited to
a lower economic class. Throughout the novel, old money is depicted
upholding an air of superiority with a detachment from responsibility. Nick
comes to this realization when he says, They were careless people, Tom and

Daisy they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into
their money or their cast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them
together, and let other people clean up the mess they made(191). The
people of East Egg, knowing that they were untouchable by virtue of their
economic position, betrayed any and all forms of social decency.
One of, if not the greatest questions that both characters and readers
share is the origin of Gatsbys wealth. Throughout the early novel, Gatsby is
described by various characters and their speculation as a mysterious man
of various backgrounds. In truth, Gatsby is revealed to be one of no wealthy
descent, His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people (105)
The closest the reader comes to learning Gatsbys profession is through the
lunch meeting between Gatsby and Mr. Wolfshiem. Further inspection of the
issues facing the United States in the 1920s suggests that Gatsby and Mr.
Wolfshiem were alcohol bootleggers. Prohibition in the United States was a
period of time between 1920 and 1933 where the production, transportation,
and sale of alcoholic beverages were illegal. The distribution of alcohol
quickly became an expensive, yet secretive business limited to black
markets in major cities. It is reasonable to assume that Gatsby and Mr.
Wolfshiem attained their wealth through this method as both characters
reticent nature is demonstrated through their inability to confess their
profession throughout the novel.
What is most interesting about The Great Gatsby is the time period in
which the novel was written and published. F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel was

published in 1925, just four years after the time the book takes place.
Whatever events took place within his novel, Fitzgerald was experiencing in
near real-time or had recently experienced. In one form or another,
Fitzgeralds novel was a critique of his own ways and the society within which
he lived. Fitzgerald had firsthand experience with the social issues which
affected the characters, and was able to accurately chronicle the struggles
and interactions between economic groups.
Although F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is fictional, the novel
provides readers with a taste of the 1920s. Fitzgerald subtly hints at certain
event in the years surrounding the novel such as the Prohibition Era and
numerous political injustices. His work documents the lives of the upper
class through events of social clash. Unlike other authors, Fitzgerald writes
about a time period that continued on after the novel was published.