Tuesday, February 19, 2019
To what extent and in what ways is Fitzgerald purely critical of Gatsby?
Dreams are a large part of The Great Gatsby, both in the wider sense and in terms of separates, and Gatsby is the character whose ambition is focussed on the most. It is difficult to consecrate what Fitzgerald truly regards, due to the fact that he uses Nick as the bank clerk meaning the ref finds it hard to separate their get holdings. However, by looking at how he presents the characters in the unexampled, and the society as a whole, we tin crapper peradventure watch what Fitzgerald thinks some Gatsbys envisages in the young.Fitzgeralds views are presented ambiguously in the novel, with the affinity to the rest of society being the main point against the deed of conveyance views, and the manifestation of Daisy and materialism maybe being the main arguments to support the statement in the title. One way in which Fitzgerald founds his views to the reader is in his video display of Gatsbys aspiration itself, oppositewise known as Daisy. From the beginning of the novel, she is presented by Fitzgerald as a kinda annoying, simple character who sees to dumbfound very few redeem qualities about her other than her looks.From her simple and repeated dialogue Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then expend it? I always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it, the reader is made to feel that Daisy has very little substance to her character, with the exception of her low, thrilling voice. Despite the reader having a screen in crusade of Fitzgeralds viewpoint in terms of Nick as the narrator, who clearly Fitzgerald intends to show as somewhat drawn to Daisy, we are still commensurate to see that the only characteristics of Daisys that are praised come out to be superficial.Therefore, when we are told that this woman has been Gatsbys reverie and who he has built his life around for the past five years, it mayhap denounces us interview whether Fitzgerald is attempt to portray Daisy as worthwhile of thi s dedication. This dubiousness arises I feel that if Fitzgerald was applauding Gatsbys dream of Daisy, he perhaps may fall in presented her as a more than likeable, intelligent character with qualities that could easily be admired univers in ally.As a result of this portrayal of Daisy, I count it shows Fitzgerald to be mainly life-sustaining of Gatsby and his dream. However, this could depend on the era that the individual is based in readers today could find Daisy as more of an innervation due to the change in womens roles, in that today women are furthermost more independent and take outlying(prenominal) more responsibility than they did in the 1920s. Daisys apparent simple nature may therefore annoy modern font readers more than in the past as we are less able to understand that this was how women were expected to be in the 1920s.Nevertheless, even taking these m changes into account I believe that Fitzgerald still intended Daisy to come forth perhaps lacking in typica l good qualities to high schoollight a say-so point about Gatsbys dream. However, Daisys apparent lack of appeal as a character could be used by Fitzgerald to portray Gatsbys dream in a better light, if we look from the angle of his loyalty to Daisy. The way that Gatsby has stayed so faithful and loyal to his dream to be with Daisy, despite (in our eyes) the fact that she is non worth it, could show that Fitzgerald is praising his dream as a develop of this admirable quality in Gatsbys character.This would go against the statement that Fitzgerald is purely decisive of his dreams, as it would imply that they bring out the best in people. However, the other interpretation of Gatsbys loyalty could support the title statement, as Fitzgerald at meters implies that Gatsby is foolish for holding on to the memory of Daisy, and building her up to such(prenominal) a high status in his encephalon. An example of this is when Fitzgerald writes and forever bind his unutterable dreams to her perishable breath.Although it is implied that it is Gatsby who says the row, I still believe it shows Fitzgeralds abominate of Gatsbys attitude towards Daisy by reservation the hit voice so exaggerated it implies that he is blinded by his past perceptions of her, in addition to the actual phrase that seems to imply Gatsby is foolish for putting all his hopes into some ane who could leave him. I believe that in this way Fitzgerald is criticising Gatsbys dream because of how he holds it in his mind and how it affects him. Another aspect that could show that Fitzgerald is critical is how he associate Gatsbys dream of Daisy to material objects and status.Throughout the novel, he creates the impression that these two things are intertwined in Gatsbys mind with his dream of being with Daisy. He describes her voice as all-embracing of property, and shows off his house to her, lingering on his wardrobe with the atomic reactor of shirts in galore(postnominal) an(prenominal) coloured disarray. The first quote shows how Gatsby contact lenss Daisy with money in his mind, and as a result of this Fitzgerald makes the reader question whether it is really Daisy he wants or if it is the social status that she represents to him.The close link to materialism in his dream can as well as be seen in the section where Gatsby shows Daisy his shirts, where he is literally trying to prove himself to her using what he owns. They are even described as a rich motorbus, which I believe could be a play on words by Fitzgerald obviously rich in terms of the colours of the shirts, that also literally rich as perhaps this is what the shirts mean to the characters. The translation is also given as a list the frequent repeat of the word and in the paragraph also implies that Gatsby is showing off as much of his material worth as he can.I think both of these things are a check of Gatsbys dream by Fitzgerald, as it seems as if he is trying to say that this have intercours e he has had for Daisy all these years is really fuelled by status and money a criticism because it therefore becomes even less of a worthwhile dream. It also appears to be critical as these think would imply that Gatsby has spent all this conviction chasing after a somewhat empty dream, as he has money and a certain amount of status in his community. It could also give the impression that Fitzgerald feels that Gatsby may never feel that his dream has been completely execute if it is status that he wishes to have.This point could be linked to Fitzgeralds overall views about dreams in America at that point, as he could be trying to say that these people who think that material objects and status will make them happy (perhaps those people who were or are enticed by a vision of the American Dream) will never be truly happy as there will always be individual richer, more fashionable or at a higher status than themselves. If the reader golf links this point to Fitzgeralds feelings about Gatsbys dream, it would indicate that he is critical of it for the most part.A second quote that could show that Fitzgerald is critical of this intense build-up of dreams is on foliate 93 No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghostly heart. I believe that this quote is Fitzgerald telling the reader that what is there in reality can never match our dreams in Gatsbys case, that the real life Daisy can never live up to the visualize he has stored of her in his heart and mind, the realistic approach being represented by the fire and freshness.Again, I believe that this is also referring to dreams in general, and how it is so often the case that dreams are not always so amazing in reality, and can often disappoint and could perhaps be a specific reference to the American Dream and how, for many people, this is not as amazing as it is built up to be when achieved. This seems critical from Fitzgerald, both of Gatsbys dream and of dreams univ ersally as he appears to be making the point that dreams are often built up and aimed too high perhaps giving false hope.Although there are many aspects throughout the book that indicate Fitzgerald is solely critical of Gatsbys dream, by giving us the comparison to the rest of the East marge society, parts of the novel seem to be suggesting that this is not the case. Throughout the novel, the residents of the East and West Eggs have been presented by Fitzgerald as very materialistic living for objects, and trivial gossip, earlier than people or feelings.Mrs Wilson describes how she knew Mr Wilson wasnt right for her when she discovered he had borrowed somebodys best font to get married in showing the focus on objects rather than feelings in the society. Therefore, amongst the gossiping and whispering (for example at Gatsbys parties), to have Gatsby pore on someone and loyal to someone for an extended period of time makes for a very refreshing comparison. Fitzgerald is therefo re showing to the reader how having dreams can make you a better person, and almost more real in comparison to the rest of the society, which has been portrayed as somewhat fake by Fitzgerald.In this sense, it would go against the statement that Fitzgerald is purely critical of Gatsbys dream, as this seem to be a positive side to his dreams. Another element of the novel that could be seen to contradict the title statement is also a comparison between Gatsby and the rest of the East Coast society. We are shown throughout the novel how many of the residents do not seem to care about anything, anyone or consequences of their actions.An example of this is Jordan, who confesses to Nick that she feels she can avoid being careful whilst driveway because other people will keep out of her way. This shows a contract for the consequences of her actions and of other people and can be seen to be representative of many of the upper class people on the East Coast expecting everyone else to be with the rules and regulations but disregarding them themselves. Again, in this way Gatsby is definitely a short letter he obviously cares about something, which is the first main difference that I believe Fitzgerald wants us to see.In addition to this, Gatsby has been shown to think very guardedly about the consequences of his actions for example when he re-enters Nicks house after Daisy arrives to make it appear as if he has not been waiting. Whilst this could be seen as somewhat calculating, I believe Fitzgerald intended it as another comparison to the rest of society, as it again uplifting for the reader to see that at least one character is concerned about the effect his actions might have on others.This once more shows that the effect of Gatsby having a bigger dream and ambition in his life has led to him seemingly being portrayed as a better person. This aspect of the comparison would also contradict the title statement, as to me it seems that Fitzgerald wished for this p ositive difference to be shown meaning that he would not be purely critical of Gatsbys dreams. A view that Fitzgerald seems to put crossways to contradict the belief that he is purely critical is when he links dreaming and dreams to vitality and life.More than once in the novel he describes Gatsby in terms of the life Daisy seems to give him describing the colossal vitality of his dream and the two of them as possessed by intense life. twain of these quotes seem to imply that Fitzgerald dreaming is natural, and is almost what makes you human. More specifically, the way that Fitzgerald implies that gain his dream has given Gatsby life makes it seem as if we are entire by our dreams and that finally having Daisy in his life has completed Gatsby.Considering that Gatsby has already what many people might dream of a lot of money and a mansion, the fact that it has taken his sentimental dream based on feelings and love to give him life seems a very positive view from Fitzgerald. It also links to the earlier comparison between Gatsby and the rest of the East Coast society that we view, as this clearly shows that Gatsby puts more emphasis on emotions and feelings than many of the other people.These quotes from the book could possibly be taken as negative, as it could perhaps be seen as somewhat pathetic that Gatsby relies on somebody else (and, as mentioned earlier, particularly Daisy) to complete his happiness, meaning that Fitzgerald would perhaps view Gatsby as foolish. However, I believe that the way Fitzgerald has tried to make Gatsbys dreams and feelings seem more natural are a direct pointer to how dreaming is a part of human nature, and as such, he is not criticising Gatsbys dream at this point.Due to Fitzgeralds seeming disregard for Daisy in the novel, I believe that he is critical of Gatsbys dream to be with her. However, I believe the other aspects of his presentation linking to dreams in a wider context prevent this view from seeming as if he is pu rely critical of it the way that he suggests dreams are significant to human nature and separate Gatsby from the crowd imply that Fitzgerald finds dreaming admirable, to an extent.For him to be purely critical I believe that he would have to feel purely critical of dreaming in general, which I believe not to be the case. Therefore, I believe the conclusion that Fitzgerald is critical to an extent is far more feasible and takes into account the more positive aspects of dreaming that he seems to incorporate and believe in.
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