The
Great Gatsby
| THEMATIC IDEAS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss of Spirituality | Great Wealth | Decay | |
| Appearance | The loss of spirituality is seen most evidently in the behaviors of the characters. From their lack of faithfulness to their lack of purpose, much of the spiritual loss is apparent throughout the entire novel. | The issue of great wealth is presented many times throughout The Great Gatsby. From the conflict between East Egg and West Egg and the elegance of the houses, to the possessions and behaviors of the characters, the problems and consequences of enormous wealth wind through the novel. | Evidence of the decay of society also winds throughout the novel but most strongly is found in the Valley of Ashes. Additionally, we can find decay in the behaviors of the characters. |
| Purpose | The characters' behaviors show an extreme loss of spirituality. They have no faithfulness to each other, which is evident in their adulterous lifestyle. Additionally, they have no faithfulness to themselves. The materialistic ethic of the era has instilled in them the belief that what they have to offer is of no significance, but money is the only way to achieve anything.
Gatsby seems to have held on to more spirituality than the others. Unlike other characters in the book, Gatsby does what he does for a purpose; he strives for a goal. His pursuit parallels religious imagery such as a knight's searching for the Holy Grail. Dr. T. J. Eckleburg is an additional religious parallel. His eyes symbolize the eyes of the Lord. In the society of the Roaring Twenties, God has been pushed aside, much as the billboard that displays Dr. Eckleburg has been. To become a part of the society, the characters have pushed aside their morality and abandoned their spiritual element. |
East Egg and West Egg are probably the greatest examples of the problems great wealth can create. Although money may have been acquired differently in each instance, both societies let money sway their behaviors and attitudes towards others. The book uses gold and silver to represent wealth, in addition to the automobile. Appropriately, the automobile is also the instrument of death, suggesting that the superficial atmosphere created by wealth might ultimately lead to one's demise. The materialistic ethic in the world that Gatsby lives in also brings an illusion to the wealthy. Gatsby believes he could achieve anything with wealth and that wealth is the way to win his woman. | The green earth's being turned to ashes symbolizes the morality in America that has been corrupted by the national adoption of materialism. Money, in the societies in which the book takes place, determines one's social status and worth. To the characters how one got it was not a large issue, just as long as one had it. There were differences between West Egg and East Egg that stemmed from how one acquired his or her wealth, but money gave one the belief that he or she had the ability to achieve anything. Gatsby looks to money as his key to impressing Daisy and bridging the gap.
Gatsby never does achieve his dream with wealth and immorality. His life exemplifies the theory that one's goals can never be achieved through materialism, immorality, and a superficial nature. |
Page last updated
on April 8, 1999.
Curator: Kelly MacKay