Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

“I went over and looked at the huge incoherent failure of a house once more”:
The Houses in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and the Illusory Nature of
the American Dream

Solène Michon
2nd semester

Term Paper for

Bachelor Proseminar American Studies: The American Novel

Dr. Sonja Georgi

7th March 2024

Table of Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1
Location of the Houses....................................................................................... 1
Colour Symbolism of the Houses ....................................................................... 2
Houses’ Architecture and Furniture .................................................................... 3
Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 4
List of Works Cited ............................................................................................. 5
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Introduction

The American Dream embodies the ideal of upward mobility and “individual
success” (Heike 368). Defined by Vanneman and Cannon as the narrative of “rags-to-riches”
(Vanneman and Cannon 266), it supports the belief that hard work and perseverance can
propel individuals from lower class to upper class. This notion of upward mobility contrasts
with the rigid social hierarchies of European societies, as highlighted by Heike (367), where
one’s inherited social and financial status dictates their place in society. Central to the
American Dream is the figure of the self-made man, embodying “expressive individualism”,
“competitive equality” and thriving on “the illusion that the exception is the rule” (Heike
368).

Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby serves as an exploration of the complexities of the

American Dream, diverging from the conventional narrative to portray class as a socially
constructed barrier. In this context, achieving the American Dream for Jay Gatsby extends
beyond mere economic success to gaining acceptance into the aristocracy, embodied by his
relentless pursuit of Daisy Buchanan.

In this paper, I argue that the Buchanans’ and Gatsby’s houses, analysed through the
lens of social class criticism, reflect the social inequalities within the upper class and
therefore serve as a critique of the myth that individuals born in the lower class like Gatsby
can access the upper class through hard work and material success.

Location of the Houses

The contrasting locations of West Egg and East Egg in the novel serve as symbolic
landscapes reflecting the division within the upper class. Although physically adjacent and
“identical in contour” (Fitzgerald 10), these enclaves represent distinct social spheres
characterised by contrasting aspirations. West Egg, described as “the less fashionable of the
two” (Fitzgerald 11), serves as the area of self-made men like Jay Gatsby, whose mansion
stands as a symbol of newfound wealth and ambition. Here, the landscape is marked by a
diverse economic profile, attracting individuals striving to achieve socioeconomic success
and climb the social ladder. The narrator even describes West Egg as the “consoling
proximity of millionaires – all for eighty dollars a month” (Fitzgerald 11).
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Conversely, East Egg reflects wealth and exclusivity, characterised by “white

palaces” that “glittered along the water” (Fitzgerald 11). This enclave represents the
entrenched aristocracy, who inherited their fortune and have the highest social status in
society. The Buchanans’ residence, located amidst the luxurious estates of East Egg,
symbolises the privilege and social pedigree of its owners.

The geographic proximity of West Egg and East Egg, separated only by a bay,
visualises the division between the nouveau riche and the old-money elite (Wu and Shen
2501). This geographic contrast underscores the unbridgeable gap between the aspirational
new money class to which Jay Gatsby belongs, and the aristocrats, Daisy and Tom,
highlighting the enduring stratification within the American upper class (Wu and Shen
2501). The social division by house locations in West and East Egg is complemented by the
symbolism conveyed through the colours of the residences, further representing the social
class gap within the upper class.

Colour Symbolism of the Houses

The colour symbolism of the houses serves as a revealing reflection of the

characteristics of their respective owners and thus reflect the division between the characters
of the upper class. The Buchanans’ residence, described as a “red-and-white . . . mansion”
(Fitzgerald 12) embodies power and purity. The presence of red within the decor, such as the
“wine-coloured rug” (Fitzgerald 13), represents violence and danger, reflecting the volatile
nature of Tom and Daisy. As Zhang observes, the colours red embodies qualities of disloyalty
and aggression, indicative of the Buchanans’ willingness to sweep aside anyone who stands
in their way (Zhang 42). This is notably exemplified by the tragic fate of Myrtle Wilson and
Jay Gatsby, both casualties of Tom and Daisy’s uncaring disregard for others.

Conversely, the white elements within the Buchanans’ residence symbolise “nobility
and purity”, “closely associated with Daisy” (Zhang 41). However, Zhang notes that white
also conveys notions of emptiness and superficiality, indicating the shallowness inherent
within Daisy’s character (Zhang 42). The “pale” curtains and the “frosted wedding-cake of
the ceiling” (Fitzgerald 13) are a façade, masking the moral ambiguities and vacuity lurking
beneath the surface.

In contrast, Jay’s mansion is covered with yellow and blue, embodying materialism,
idealism, and melancholy. The “yellow cocktail music” (Fitzgerald 42) and the toilet of “pure
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. . . gold” (Fitzgerald 89) symbolise wealth and Gatsby’s aspiration to fit into the opulence
of the upper class.

Meanwhile, the presence of blue within Gatsby’s estate illustrates a “romantic

idealism” (Lance 26) tinged with melancholy and fantasy. Zhang observes that blue conveys
themes of loneliness and illusion, reflective of Gatsby’s isolated existence and his futile
pursuit of Daisy (Zhang 43). The “blue gardens” (Fitzgerald 41) and “blue lawn” (Fitzgerald
171) surrounding Gatsby’s mansion evoke a sense of longing and unattainable dreams,
underscoring the ephemeral nature of his aspirations. Despite Gatsby’s elaborate façade of
social connection, his ultimate loneliness is palpable, as pointed out by Daisy who wonders
how he can “live there alone” (Fitzgerald 87).

This dichotomy of colours in the portrayal of the houses reflects the opposition
between the owners and thus the division within the upper society itself. The Buchanans
represent nobility, power, but also the violence and emptiness that lie beneath. Gatsby,
despite his efforts to belong to this class, is represented through his house by the pursuit of
material and social success, but this quest is also described as futile and lonely.

Houses’ Architecture and Furniture

The architectural and furnishing details of the Buchanans’ and Gatsby’s residences
serve as reflections of their owners’ natures, highlighting the gap between the class of old
money and the nouveau riche. The Buchanans’ mansion, with its “Georgian Colonial” style
(Fitzgerald 12), reflects the ancient heritage and inherited wealth, emblematic of the
privilege associated with the aristocracy.

In contrast, the “sole function of [Gatsby’s] material possessions”, including his

house, “is sign-exchange value” (Tyson 73), meaning that he only owns them for “the social
status [their] ownership confer” (Tyson 69). This is made clear by the superficiality of his
furniture, such as the library filled with uncut, and thus unopened, books, which even
surprises a guest who exclaims “What realism!” (Fitzgerald 47), as if Gatsby’s entire house
were merely a set. The inconsistency in the architecture and furnishing of Jay’s house also
reflects his desire to prove himself worthy of the aristocratic class. Therefore, the different
rooms of the house are from entirely different eras; the “music-rooms” are from the “Marie
Antoinette” period, but there are also “Restoration Salons” (Fitzgerald 88), and the library
is “Gothic” in style (Fitzgerald 46). Moreover, the mansion itself is described as a “factual
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imitation” of a building in France (Fitzgerald 11). Thus, Gatsby’s values his house solely in
terms of its exchange value for Daisy’s affection and recognition. Indeed, when Daisy visits
Jay’s house, he “revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it
drew from her well-loved eyes” (Fitzgerald 88). Daisy herself is therefore a sign-exchange
value for Gatsby, representing his only way to access the old money class and fulfil his
American Dream. Indeed, although he is economically successful, the only thing he cannot
buy is being born into an aristocratic family.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this paper has examined how the depiction of the houses in The Great
Gatsby illuminates the division within the upper class. Through the analysis of location,
colours, furniture, and architecture, it becomes evident that Jay Gatsby is inherently excluded
from the Buchanans’ social class. Despite his economic success, Gatsby’s relentless pursuit
of the American Dream ultimately proves futile, as he can never truly bridge the gap to the
aristocracy. The novel’s critique of the American Dream is underscored by Gatsby’s inability
to access the upper class through hard work and perseverance alone, highlighting the barriers
to social mobility and the perpetuation of class division in American society in the early 20th
century.
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List of Works Cited

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. 1926. Penguin UK, 2000.

Heike, Paul. “Expressive Individualism and the Myth of the Self-Made Man.” The Myths
That Made America: An Introduction to American Studies, Transcript Verlag, 2014,
pp. 367-420.

Lance, Jacqueline. “The Great Gatsby: Driving to Destruction with the Rich and Careless at
the Wheel.” Studies in Popular Culture, Vol. 23, No. 2, October 2000, pp. 25-35.

Tyson, Lois. “Marxist criticism.” Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. Routledge,
2012, pp. 53-81.

Vanneman, Reeve and Lynn Weber Cannon. “The American Dream.” The American
Perception of Class, Temple University Press, 1987, pp. 257-82.

Wu, Yue and Jinsong Shen. “Place, Class, and the Destruction of the American Dream in The
Great Gatsby from the Perspective of Space.” Theory and Practice in Language
Studies, Vol. 13, No. 10, October 2023, pp. 2500-2505.

Zhang, H. B. “Symbolic Meanings of Colors in The Great Gatsby.” Studies in Literature and
Language, Vol. 10, No. 6, 2015, pp. 38-44.