The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby follows the life of one Jay Gatz and his exploits during the Roaring Twenties. We are told about the lavish parties, promiscuity, and overabundance of wealth that came with living in that period. It was a fitting time to read The Great Gatsby as the 20s visit us once more, this time a century later. It will be interesting to see how this decade compares to the one 100 years ago. Will we be just as prosperous, allowing for a 10-year long party or will we be in economic ruin and on the brink of a resource war? One thing that is for sure is that the party has to come to an end at some point; just as it did for Gatsby.
Is Gatsby Great?
Adjectives have been added to the names of significant people throughout history, Alexander the Great and Ivan the Terrible are two noteworthy examples. In F.S. Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby the protagonist Jay Gatsby is also in possession of such a title. Unlike most historical figures who earned their name by doing either great or terrible things, Jay Gatsby earns the title of “great” by being anything but. Jay Gatsby is the antithesis of greatness as he uses people, breaks the law, and lies, all to achieve something he will never have.
A great one does not use, abuse, and manipulate others to get what she wants. Greatness is rather, using your position to help others. Gatsby has no regard for anyone but himself as he uses his friends to break up an already existing marriage. Gatsby befriends Nick because Nick is cousins with his love, Daisy. Getting close to Nick is a good way of getting close to Daisy, Gatsby believes. Throughout the novel, Gatsby constantly asks Nick to come on trips to the city or organize/attend lunches or tea parties with Daisy present. Gatsby butters Nick up with free access to his beach and a job offer. Gatsby is not Nick’s friend. To Gatsby, Nick is a means to an end. Gatsby shows his disregard for others by vehemently trying to get Daisy to be with him. It does not matter to Gatsby that Daisy is a mother and a wife to two other people because Daisy is Gatsby’s, only. If a family has to be broken to live happily ever after with Daisy, so be it. Gatsby is not great because he is willing to hurt and use others for his selfish desires.
Truly great people do not have to pretend to be great because they have something to show for it and already embody greatness. Everyone knew why Alexander of Macedonia was great; the size of his empire and the wars he won. In Jay Gatsby’s case, everyone questioned and gossipped about the origins of his wealth and how he came to be who he is. If there was anything to prove Gatsby’s greatness, no one would question him. Jay Gatsby lies and creates a facade of a charming, grand, millionaire, which is not who he truly is. Gatsby creates this persona of a well-read, educated and respected businessman. He fills his library with real books, makes sure everyone knows he studied at Oxford and fills his wardrobe, house, and garage with glamour and high-end products. This is all a facade to attract Daisy to him. Gatsby’s true self is the son of poor mid-west farmers. Gatsby should be his true self if he wants Daisy, that is what attracted her to him in the beginning. A great man does not lie, he is honest and true to himself and others.
There are many examples, past and present, of people doing/accomplishing great things without doing anything illegal/immoral. Bill Gates and Elon Musk gained their vast wealth through creating products/services that improve the lives of billions. They did not have to reduce themselves to bootlegging as Gatsby did. Gatsby committed crimes and committed immoral acts for his benefit. Gatsby got involved with bootlegging/selling illegal products to gain his wealth. He does business with a notorious gangster, Wolfsheim. It does not matter to Gatsby that his business partner may bust out people's teeth (or worse), if doing business with Wolfsheim means getting rich for Daisy, Gatsby will do it. Gatsby also went along with the murder of Myrtle. He did not stop Daisy from doing what she was doing and did not go back to Mr. Wilsons to check on him/ give information. All Gatsby did was hide in Daisy’s bushes like a coward. No great man needs to reduce himself to living a life of crime and immorality to get wealthy. Gatsby takes the easy way while a great person would take the right way.
Jay Gatsby is the antithesis of greatness as he uses people, breaks the law, and lies, all to achieve something he will never have. The “Great” in Gatsby’s name is sarcastic. Nick or anyone else would not call a man like Gatsby “great”, as he goes on what is a psychopathic pursuit. In the end, Gatsby does not even end up with Daisy. How great is that? Gatsby ends up dead with no one at his funeral but the man he manipulated. Gatsby has nothing to show for his greatness, no empire, no family, no achievements, only empty words, and a lonely tomb.
The Roaring Twenties
The Jazz Age
The Roaring Twenties, the greatest party of all time. But what’s a party without music. The 1920s, also referred to as the jazz age, was a decade in which jazz music and dance gained popularity. The concept of swing jazz evolved as music became more exciting and spontaneous. This era brought attention to some of the most influential jazz musicians and bands in history, including Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, and Helen Kane. We can thank these talented musicians of the roaring twenties for the modern jazz technique that exists today.
The jazz movement of the 1920s is also referred to as a Post World War I movement. This kind of freestyle, “Anything Goes” musical mentality gained popularity as a kind of celebration after winning the War. The African American community of Harlem and New Orleans publicly performed in jazz bands regularly, aiding in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 20s.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, jazz plays an important role in the setting of the novel, especially about Gatsby and his frequent house parties. Jazz was the music of the times and the most popular sound heard at any party. This was no exception in Gatsby’s case, as jazz tunes are heard throughout his mansion during any of his social events.
The following is a playlist of a few notable musicians of the 1920s, as well as some of the sounds that could be heard echoing throughout Gatsby’s mansion from his hired musicians during a typical party.
The American Dream
The American Dream is the belief that anyone, based on their abilities and volition, can accomplish their vision for life. James Truslow Adams in 1931 essentially created in a book he wrote through the quote "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement". It is built on the harms of the aristocracy, where your vision for life was determined for you before you were even born. This belief is so central to what it means to be American that it is even written into the Constitution: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. America does not have the history that other great nations such as the UK or France. It was not built by ancient civilizations, it was built by immigrants coming to the US with dreams for a greater tomorrow. Those who weren’t seen as valuable by their respective nation because they lacked the means to be a part of the wealthy class. It is no surprise that Americans love freedom so much, the identifying feature of American culture, the American Dream is all about freedom. It is about the removal of the shackles that can constrain societies. America was supposed to be built on a beautiful premise. But this dream was tarnished by slavery, the harmful treatment of African Americans and various prejudices. There will always be certain groups favored in the form of prejudices. Money has always been a source of power, and therefore those who have the most money will always be the most powerful.
But how does this all play into “The Great Gatsby” a book about some rich guy who threw some epic parties? What truths does some rich guy reveal about America’s history?
The novel has been described as “the closest criticism of the American dream that literature affords” and Gatsby is at the center of that. The very creation of this persona of Jay Gatsby is reminiscent of the American Dream. The belief that the US is essentially this clean slate where you can be what you want to be is mirrored in the actions of James Gatz. Gatsby falls in love with the lifestyle, the power, the freedom and most importantly the women. Although there has been much contention of whether Gatsby truly loved Daisy or if he only loved the idea of being with her, this won’t get into that. What’s important is that Gatsby believed with almost every fiber in his being that if he worked hard enough, if he amassed enough wealth, Daisy would notice him and realize her mistake. The lengths to which he went were unparalleled. He built an empire, allowed strangers to ruin his mansion every weekend and waited 5 long years. All because Gatsby truly believed that his last name would be of no importance in Daisy’s world. He was going to will his dream into a reality. But as we saw at the iconic hotel scene, this dream was nothing but that, a dream. Gatsby could never amass his wealth so quickly without using illicit means, and that's what separates him from the Tom Buchanans of the world. What comes so naturally to Tom, the way he speaks, the way he acts, the things he believes. These are things that could never come naturally to Gatsby as they are the product of being within the circle for one’s entire life. Gatsby’s attempt to consolidate/cram all that knowledge in a few odd years leads to it seeming forced. It shows why his dream will always stay that. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy/ Catch-22. Gatsby will never be the man Daisy wants him to be because it requires it to come naturally.