morality Flashcards
post-war America
- WW1 shattered illusions, there was disillusionment with American system – a distinguishing charactersistic of post war American writing
- This sense of exhaustion of romantic possibility is inseperable from the post-war weariness that dominates the novel
violence and love
- Undercurrent of violence tied to love – grotesque underside threatens to overpower the romantic core of the novel as it does at the end where Nick sees the failure of Gatsby’s romantic vision turning the old warm world into an unfamiliar sky, frightening leaves and a grotesque ‘rose’ . romantic moments undo themselves – glamorous parties and drunken affairs q
romantic possibility v. corrupt reality
- Romantic possibility gives way to corrupt reality, with the greenness of the New World the settlers discovered giving way to the valley of ashes and the atmosphere of corruption – green light gives way to horrible realisation for Gatsby. Dream of an idealised love gives way to adultery and death, the idea of a just god gives way to merely the eyes of Dr Eckleberg, an advertisement, overlooking a physical wasteland and characters who consistently missee
valley of ashes
the dumping ground of expected romantic possibility for America. George and myrtle incoproate the dereliction and waste that the system casts off -capitalism. It is the liminal space between the source of wealth (NY) and the ideal fo East Egg – it is important that we see the valley of ashes before the big party structurally as it emphasises whaty Myrtle is desperate to get out of. It can also be seen to reflect Eliot’s ‘the waste land’ punlished in the year the novel is set in – the idea that spiritual values had been lost in an increasingly materialistic modern world. Fitzgerald’ valley of ashes is literally a wasteland, but also an image of a spiritually bleak world.
Fitzgerald’s comment on the future of america
- Fitzgerald argues essentially that there is no hope of change for America, and moral decline is irreversible, highlioghting the corrupting influence of capitalism on love.
impossibility of social mobility - myrtle
- Myrtle’s desperation to detach herself from George and attach herself to tom reflects a sense of aspiration – however she is punched in the face, reflecting the impossibility of social mobiloty. She is obsessed with a man who diesnt respect her, ;like how Gatsby is obsessed wth a social class that will never accept him.
structural parallels
- Fitzgerald tends to use structural parallels – glamour is underscored by tragedy and danger. Structural parallel between Valley of Ashes and Gatsby’s amnsion – next chapter. It comments hat wealth is always in view of the lower class, but it is inaccessible/unattainable. Hedonism of the wealthy with no concern for lower class. Structural deconstruction of American Dream – these people are hollow and morally impure. This is evident in the contrast between the magical surroundings of Gatsby’s mansion and the behaviour of the guests
marxist reading
- From a Marxist perspective, Fitzgerald points us towards the conspicuous consumption of America – people buying things for cultural and social valu rather than actual practicality
- Witholding gatsby’s background until later in the novel is a deliberate method underscoring the rootlessness of post-war American society and its restless alienation and consequent reliance on money as a code for expressing emotions and identity.
cumulative effect of stories that layer together to piece together the enigmatic gatbsy
inconsisntent as we do not know whether he has made his fortunes through criminal activity or if he is an honest, hardworking man. The stories therefore present even more complications and contradictions. The truth depends on who is telling the story – adding to the gossipy, cosmopolitan nature of N.Y culture
Nick as hypocritical
‘I’m inclined to reserve all judgements’ Hipocritical, establishes unreliable narration
Tom as symbolising patriarchal dominance
‘a body capable of enormous leverage – a cruel body’ Tom’s masculinity and muscular build is emphasised . patriarchal dominance
disspelling myth of sanctity of marriage
‘candles were lit again, pointlessly’ Shift from natural light of sunshine to the artificial light of candles – reflecti g how Nick’s romantic views of Daisy and Tom’s life have been shattered, and the myth of marriage dispelled as we realise their relationship is unhappy. Emphasises artificiality of their relationship
‘walking through her husband as if he were a ghost’ Dispels myth of marriage – disregards George for Tom
Myrtle described only in sexual terms
‘carried her surplus flesh sensuously…she wet her lips’ Described only in physical terms – reflecting her sexuality and the fact she will never be more than a mistress. Myrtle wears bold colours whilst Daisy and Jordan are dressed in white – ohyscial perception of femininity for sex
Dr. Eckleburg
‘terrible place, isn’t it’, said Tom, exchanging a frown with Doctor Eckleburg’ Corrupt and ironic – the locale of the Buchanan mansion is equally as corrupt and morally debaucherous.
‘we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleberg’s persistent stare’ Motif serves as a haunting reminder of upper class control. D.E looks down on disgracefulness of the way that people are acting and questions their moral
A fascination with debauchery
‘small scandal magazines of broadway’ Fascination with images and glamour. Idea of nEw York ad=nd the city being debaucherous, a fascination with scandal – morally dubious
Nick as enchanted by debauchery
Nick: ‘I was within and without simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life’ He thinks that he si above the debauchery but he is not – sense of false moral superiority. Nick in his narration tries to distance himself from others and take an observation bystander position, but he does admit t being fascinated by what he sees
loss of value of marriage
‘neither of them can stand the person they’re married to’ Marriage is losing its value, serving to trap people. Marriage is not the spiritual connection that Shakespeare claims that it is in Sonnet 116.
myrtle’s materialistic perception of love
‘I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrow somebody’s best suit to get married’ Myrtle has a completely materialistic perception of George, and of love – myrtle is on a pursuit for wealth with George cannot provide – materialistic. Love is overshadowing real love she shared with him – reflecting the breakdown of their marriage
selfish hedonistic pursuit of pleasure
Myrtle in relation to her affair with tom: ‘You can’t live forever, you can’t live forever’
violence
Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.’
alcohol - unreliable narration
‘Then I was lying half asleep in the cold lower level of the Pennsylvania Station’ Nick gets drunk and his narration becomes fragmented and confused – unreliable. Shows how the excessive drinking at these parties highlights a loss of control, with alcohol accelerating moral badness
consumerism, overconsumption
‘Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived…every Monday these same oranges and lemons left his back door in a pyramid of pulpless halves’ Fruit is an expensive luxury. Used and discarded, not used for actual sustenance but for drinks – showing the excess of consumerism and alcoholism. Much like the lower class
‘And on Mondays eight servants…toiled all day…repairing the ravages of the night before’ Excess. Recklessness is at the expense of the lower class – much like how daisy and Gatsby die. Contrast between carelessness of party guests, and the reality of the lives of the servants
East egg v. west egg
‘East Egg condescending to West egg and carefully on guard against its spectroscopic gaiety’ East Eggers ae on guard at these parties, but they are just as debaucherous as the rest – ironic.
nick and new york
Nick: ‘I began to like New York, the racy, adventurous feel of it at night…’ ‘At the enchanted metropolitan twilight I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes’ Nick is contradictory – he is both enchanted and repulsed. As an unreliable narrator, he admits that he enjoys it, but tries to distance himself and maintain moral superiority. The superficial nature of the culture gives way to a sense of hollowness.
