FREE ESSAY ON GREAT GATSBY

GREAT GATSBY

Great Gatsby
Two prevalent themes portrayed in The Great Gatsby are money and social
status, both which coincide with the novel's four settings: East Egg, West
Egg, the Valley of Ashes, and New York. As Natania stated, these different
locations are used to "show the absurdities of modern life," as well as to
dictate social class from the upper royal status of the East Egg community to
the common folk of New York. Fitzgerald uses these settings and the
actions of characters within them to define and set boundaries between
financial and social status of the roaring 20's. 
An example of Fitzgerald's technique lies in the comparison of Myrtle
Wilson's party in her New York apartment to one of Gatsby's many summer
parties in his West Egg mansion. Through descriptions of guests coming
and going frequently, and the obnoxious drinking and wild conversation
going on at the New York and West Egg parties, the reader can conclude
that neither of these locations are above the social standing of an upper class
party of East Egg, such as one at Tom and Daisy Buchanan's without the
slight insanity of their dysfunctional family. However, the differences
between Myrtle and Gatsby's parties are great and relevant to Fitzgerald's
theme.
For example, the physical description of guests attending the party in
New York gives knowledge to the reader of their lower class standing. 
Myrtle's sister arrives with a "sticky bob of red hair" and wild, unnatural
eyebrows and makeup, and Mr. McKee with lather showing on his
cheekbone. His wife is described as "shrill, languid, handsome, and
horrible," quite the opposite of guests attending Gatsby's party, and even the
host himself. Fitzgerald describes Gatsby as a very clean cut, proud
postured, gentlemanly looking man with hair which looks like it "were
trimmed every day," just as a stereotypical member of the social upper class
should appear. Myrtle's party included obnoxious, almost insane guests
who were quick to speak their rude, blunt opinions and provide proof to
Jordan Baker's statement that "at small parties there isn't any privacy." In
fact, Tom Buchanan was so uncivilized a guest as to punch Myrtle, his lover
and the party's hostess, and cause a bloody mess. This scene would never be
seen at Gatsby's mansion, for it proved to be a truly sophisticated gathering
including a complete orchestra, a mammoth buffet of food including two
formal suppers, as well as champagne and many different liquors. All
Myrtle had to offer her guests was oversized furniture in a small apartment
and bottomless bottles of whiskey, which seemed to fit the guest list's
requests perfectly.
Therefore, through descriptive analysis of the characters and locations
in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald supports his theme of the importance of
financial and social status of the roaring 20's.