social class Flashcards
the novel as a social satire
his use of irony, exaggeration and ridicule mocks and exposes the hedonism of 1920s America – eg gatsby’s long list of guests who don’t even know who he is. Fitzgerald exposes the tragic human tendency to be fallible. This is evident in Myrtle’s attempt to transcend class barriers/status quo, but fate decrees she must die – and therefore Gatsby and George Wilson also die. Fitzgerald demonstrates how the lower classes are the victims of 1920s American society – beneath the extravagance is deep callousness/shallowness
Lionel Trilling’s comment on Gatbsy as the story of America
It can be read as a ‘mediattion on the fate of American ideals in the modern world, a contemplation both of the vision that sustaibed early European settlement of the New World and the sacrifice of that vision to materialistic values in the course of the nation’s rapid growth’
Definition of the American dream
James Truslow Adams in 1931: ‘life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement’ regardless of the circumstances under which they were born
Significance of the 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.
Structural parallels reflecting social class difference and offering a structural deconstruction of the American Dream
- 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
Old money
‘A Georgian red and white colonial mansion with French windows glowing now with reflected gold and wide open to the warm windy afternoon’ Links to old money European aristocracy
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
Power dynamic between upper and lower classes
‘And if you feel that way about it, maybe I’d better sell is somewhere else after all.’ ‘I don’t mean that’, explained Wilson quickly’ Power dynamic is established
myrtle’s apartment - attempts to emulate old money
‘the living room was crowded to the doors with a set of tapestried furniture entirely too large for it so that to move about was to stumble continually over scenes of ladies swinging in the gardens of Versailles’ European image links to fascination with trying to emulate old money. The tapestry is not functional and makes them trip – the dream of old money is not possible for them to achieve, and it causes frustration
Myrtle’s dress
‘Mrs Wilson had changed her costume some time before and was now attired in an elaborate afternoon of cream coloured chiffon, which gave a continual rustle as she swept about the room’ Attempts to put on a façade of wealth which is superficial – it is also not functional.
She changes from a blue to a chiffron dress – bleu is a working class colour. Daisy and Jordan where white dresses 0 representing the purity of old money – she wears cream, with the off-white colour reflecting how she will never truly be like them. It could also reflect her being tainted – his coy mistress
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
colour symbolism - yellow v. gold
Colour symbolism of the colour yellow: gatsby’s car ‘scampering like a brisk yellow music’ ‘yellow cocktail music’ Jordan Baker’s ‘golden arm’ Yellow is not the same as gold – aysmbol of high society and prestige – golden arm reflects a sense of idealised unattainability
Gatsby’s attempts to use material wealth to fulfil his loneliness and sad past
‘After that I lived like a young rajah…collecting jewels, chiefly rubies’
Gatsby’s car
Symbol of social mobility, of a love based on social class – reckless speed and carelessness.
American dream as reflected in the names of the guests
The animalistic and parasitic names of the guests – eg ‘the Leeches… Edgar beaver’ American dream – desperate emphasis on wealth and prosperity.
Gatsby’s desperate attempts too prove himself to daisy
My house looks well, doesn’t it?’ he demanded’
Artificial facade of gatbsy’s home
‘Your place looks like the World’s Fair’ Artificial imagery – façade – almost a sense of purposelessness. Underneath the glossy appearance there is a sinister undertone.
Commercialised love
‘I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes.’ Even the very language in which nick describes their love is commercial. The means by which Gatsby expresses his feelings for daisy – even though they are sincere -is by showing off.
daisy’s response to gate’s display of wealth
‘they’re such beautiful shirts, she sobbed’ She reponds to his display of wealth by crying. Even when sentiments are genuine, they are formulated in monetary terms. Gatsby’s love for daisy is intense, but its expression is distinctly that of post-war America and a society that consumes. She is confronted with the gesture that he has made – they cannot go back to a time when money and love weren’t related. She reflects on her missed opportunity. The colours contrast with old-money white. It symbolises a need to materially prove yourself and a desire to align yourself to the love that you want. Gatsby’s love for daisy is real, but it is expressed in a very American way of a consumerist society. Daisy’s freedom from class/tom, recognising that she isn’t restricted by class as much as she thought.
Pammy
‘You absolute little dream.’ Daisy creates pammy in her image – a way to retain the old money lineage andf values. The old money legacy remains pure and untarnished – the thriving future of the aristocracy.
Advertisement
‘You resemble the advertisement of the man’ Advertisement – strictly capitablist and materialistic illusion – Gatsby is almost selling the ideal man – perhaps the idea that daisy regards this innocently reflects how she is blind to his façade like the stereotypical consumer – link to context of conspicuous consumption.
daisy and wealth
‘her voice was full of money’ Suggests the innate affluence and ease of her wealth – suggesting an almost inherited, genetic old money trait which cannot be replicated despite gatsby’s attempts – her voice transcends the physical units of money reflecting her innate superiority.
Gatsby v. tom - wealth difference
‘you’re one of that bunch that hangs around with Meyer wolfshiem’ Gatsby’s fall from grace
His wealth and status is merely temporary, whereas tom’s is assured due to background.
Batsby’s dream of accumulating wealth is synonymous with his dream of daisy . fsf argues his will always be a dead dream
Myrtle’s death
‘myrtle wilson, her life violently extinguished, knelt in the road and migled her thick, dark blood with the dust’ She is connected physically with VoA – tied always to her class, even in death.
The death serves as the tragic xonsewuence of pursuing the American dream without regard for morality and conscience – highlightin gthe destructive nature of greed, infidelity, and social climbing
