The Great Gatsby can be seen as a social satire about the United States of America in the roaring 20s. Fitzgerald exposes the American Dream to be a flawed fantasy that was merely fueled by excessive indulgence. America was founded on the idea of equality. This means that every individual can have equal chances and success, which is what we call the American Dream. Abraham Lincoln, the former president, confirmed this assertion, since he was a poor, disadvantaged boy who rose to power through his efforts.
The Great Gatsby was set in the 20s, which were a time of contradictions as well as inquietude. It was over with, the ghastly shocks of war were over. Now it was time to have fun and forget about their misery. This led to a society that was obsessed with materialism, prodigality, and a lifestyle of indulgence and pointless excess. The “Great Gatsby” can be considered a social satire that comments on society’s decline in moral values and excessive indulgence.
It is evident that different characters in the novel have different social standings. Nick’s father says this: “Whenever you feel the need to criticize someone, remember that everyone in the world has not had the same advantage that you have (pg. 1)”. 1)
Gatsby and Wilson are not part of the distinguished society. Gatsby, who shows off his wealth and lavish parties, is trying to get into Tom and Daisy’s world. However, he is still rejected by those around him and fails to rise to the top of East Egg society. This observation shows that wealth and power cannot elevate him to the status of the Buchanans. As success and affluence spread, so did the loss of ethics. It was replaced with materialism and social ranking.
Gatsby’s elite group manipulated their moral values to acquire worldly wealth. Tom, a man with a very wealthy background, is an example. He clearly lacks any moral ethics. His physical appearance is a metaphor for his character. He has “a hard mouth with arrogant looking eyes and a talking voice with a gruff, husky tone,” which adds to the impression that he was fractious. (pg. (pg.
Daisy shows this by her inability to be occupied. She says, “What will we do with ourselves today and for the next thirty years?” This shows how the society of Gatsby’s day relies on social standings and material wealth for contentment. They have no purpose in life, as materialism threatens their goals. The society’s behavior and moral values are what make the American Dream a failure. This is revealed through the novel. Despite the American Dream bringing about progress and growth, there is still discrimination and corruption.
Jay Gatsby is without doubt the most famous example of both the failures of the dream and the successes of it in the novel. Gatsby lives in a world that values prosperity more than morals. Gatsby’s obsession with material possessions has made him a victim of the American Dream. Gatsby may have come close to living the American Dream as he transformed himself from a child with no family and a struggling background into a successful, wealthy man.
He had a dream of Daisy and decided to live in a world with high standards. The fact that he was wealthy would allow him to be accepted by an elite social group, which would increase his chances of acquiring Daisy’s love and associating with her, blinded him. Gatsby’s car was one of his objects to win Daisy over. Nick describes it as “monstrous in size with supper box and tool boxes”. Gatsby also tried to use his beautiful house to chase Daisy. He told Nick and Daisy that it looked “well doesn’t it?”
How does the light catch the front of the item? ” . Gatsby had the same as American Dream as Daisy and he wanted to live in love and happiness. Although Gatsby had many assets that drew Daisy closer to him, he couldn’t win her heart. Gatsby was never able to enter the elite social circle, no matter how many extravagant parties he hosted. Gatsby was not a person who valued material possessions or money. He died as an outsider, just like he was in his life.
We can see that Gatsby had dreams which gave meaning to his life. He works hard to achieve his ultimate goal but it is impossible to reach it. Unrealistic ideals are not realistic and cannot keep pace with reality. Gatsby can also be very naive. Gatsby is also very naive. The Wilsons are an example of the corrupted American Dream.
They live in the opposite part of town to the Buchanans, who reside in white palaces in East Egg. Instead, they live in the funereal Valley of Ashes, which is a ‘grey environment’ made up of people who have been rejected from elite society. The Valley of Ashes is made up of poor and untrained people who work long hours. They represent the side that has not succeeded in achieving the American Dream. Myrtle Wilson, a woman trapped in a desolate environment with an unimpressive husband, tries to escape into the world of luxury through Tom.
Myrtle is fascinated by Tom’s glamorous lifestyle. She often pretends to be part of the society. Myrtle tries to emulate the lifestyles of the wealthy in order to find happiness and fulfillment. Myrtle, like Gatsby is also rejected by the elite world of upper class. However, she insists on pursuing her dreams of becoming this world. Tom was shocked when she declared the right to repeat Daisy’s name in front her. This resulted in Tom breaking her nose with his open-handed hand.
We see that an invisible barrier exists that divides the two societies. It is insurmountable. Many people seek the American Dream, and will go to great lengths to attain it. The American Dream has led to a decline in moral values and excessive materialism, as illustrated by The Great Gatsby. It also shows that acceptance is not possible despite having wealth and authority.
As Daisy and Tom show in the novel, a society that is dependent on material possessions, wealth, social standings, and material possessions will not succeed in life. Today’s society still represents the American Dream, regardless of whether it is in the form wealth, possessions or love. One thing is certain about American Dream: everyone wants something great in life and every person tries to achieve it, regardless of whether they succeed.
Fitzgerald’s use irony, exaggeration and ridicule in mocking hypocritical social types qualifies The Great Gatsby for social satire. Social satire characters are often uncomfortably sympathetic and act as social problems emblems to emphasize inequality and injustice.
Is The Great Gatsby a love story or a satire?
The Great Gatsby’s Satire Is Fitzgerald’s novel a love story which exposes American ideals or satire that highlights the problems in American society in the twenties. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby uses satire as a comment on American society in the roaring twenties.
The Great Gatsby tells a humorous story about America’s dream. The characters in the novel don’t show hard work, but corruption of wealth. They revel in the spiritual pleasures of power, money fame, success and glamour. The American Dream also includes the ideal family
What is F. Scott Fitzgerald primarily satirizing in The Great Gatsby?
F. Scott Fitzgerald satirizes America’s leisure class throughout the novel. They had more money than what they could use. Characters such as Jordan Baker and Daisy Buchanan are a good example of the flaws associated with being excessively privileged. They act without consequence because they have so much money
What are examples of irony in The Great Gatsby?
Perhaps the greatest irony of the novel is that Daisy kills Myrtle after Myrtle ran in front of Gatsby’s car. It’s a hit-and-run. Ironically, the wife kills her husband’s mistress while not knowing it. This irony is what leads to the conclusion of the novel.
What’s the irony of Gatsby’s funeral?
Few people were at the funeral or the procession. Gatsby’s father, Nick, the minister, some servants, and owl eyes were the only ones in attendance at the funeral.