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The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Analysis Essay
The Great Gatsby
Homosexuality, lack of female voice and different levels of wealth are less explored themes in Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby." The author created the female characters of Daisy and Myrtle to convey the old stigmas of feminine oppression, weakness, and dependence. Nick Carraway's distinctive approach towards Gatsby and lack of interest in females confirm homosexuality. As homosexuality was socially unacceptable, the sexuality of Nick remains unclear. The comparison of Gatsby’s new money with Tom’s old money shows different levels of wealth and status.
A deeper analysis of Nick Carraway in the fiction transmits the themes of homosexuality. The Great Gatsby was written in the period when homosexuality was illegals and condemned socially. The author has conveyed homosexuality in a way that it does not conform to prevailing mores. Homosexuality is visible in the scene when Nick examines his thirties, “a decade of loneliness. A thinning list of a young man to know" (Fitzgerald). He reacts to men distinctively and specifically Jay Gatsby. Nick’s attitude and care towards Gatsby can be seen as love. His sexual orientation remains unclear because he never expressed his feelings for any girl. He is only concerned about Gatsby and gives no attention to the female characters. Nick's description of McKee also reveals his homosexuality, "Mr. McKee was a pale, feminine man from the flat below. Nick follows McKee in the elevator after leaving Catherine. He had just shaved for there was a white spot of lather on his cheekbone” (Fitzgerald). His description depicts that he is more fascinated towards men than females CITATION Zam17 \l 1033 (Hodo).
The fragile beauty and destructive character of Daisy exhibit lack of woman’s voice in The Great Gatsby. Tom Buchana portrays the same old paternalism by confining females to the status of the decorative object of male desires. His attitudes reveal the double standards as he denies Daisy from having a relationship with Gatsby while he has an affair with Myrtle. Fitzgerald adopted the stereotypical attitude by portraying females as subordinate and weak. Myrtle endures the pain when Tom beats her and uses her as an object. She is adulterous and foolish as she accepts Tom’s conditions for their illegal relationship. Daisy’s weakness is apparent in her decision of leaving Gatsby for money CITATION Zam17 \l 1033 (Hodo).
Although materialism is a visible theme in the fiction Fitzgerald highlights different levels of wealth in American society. There is a clear distinction between hard earned money and the inherited wealth. Gatsby’s money was less powerful because it was not inherited. While Tom’s wealth was more powerful because of his background and status. Different levels of wealth become apparent when Daisy claims that Gatsby’s new wealth cannot compete with Buchana’s inherited wealth. Different wealth is used in the novel to identifying social classes. Gatsby's wealth is of less importance to Daisy because he belonged to a low-income family. Irrespective of his wealth he is unable to match Buchana’s status (Bode).
Fitzgerald has used bold themes in his fiction by creating the character of Nick whose feeling towards Gatsby reveals his homosexuality. The fiction does not show any connection of Nick with any female character. This indicates that Fitzgerald challenged the social norms as Nick takes a role outside society’s mores. The author has repressed the voice of women by giving more power to males. The females like Daisy and Myrtle are displayed as foolish and weaker whom powerful male controls. Tom’s violence towards Myrtle is transmitted the traditional stigmas as male had the power and authority. Social classes are visible in the different levels of wealth possessed by Gatsby and Tom.
Work cited
Bode, C. American Perspectives, the United States in the Modern Age, Washington, DC. (1990).
BIBLIOGRAPHY Hodo, Zamira. "The Failure of the American Dream in “The Great Gatsby”- Fitzgerald ." European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies 2.7 (2017).
Fitzgerald, Francis Scott. The Great Gatsby. 1st ed. New York: Oxford University Press. (1998).
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