Examples Of Classism In The Great Gatsby

Juan Martinez Dr. Angiello American Lit 3/4/2023 Status and the Jazz Era Through The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald shows that status is the most important aspect of someone’s life in the Roaring 20s. When Gatsby tells Nick about first meeting Daisy, he tells him that, "but he had deliberately given Daisy a sense of security; he let her believe that he was a person from much the same strata as herself” (Fitzgerald 92). Gatsby led Daisy astray by letting her believe he was from the same class as her because he believed that he could only be with Daisy if he appeared to be from the same class as her. Gatsby later tells Nick that, “He knew that Daisy was extraordinary,

Fitzgerald wrote many books, but one of the most popular is The Great Gatsby. In the book he criticizes the upper class of the 1920s and how they lived. This is shown through the idea that rich people do not have it all and money doesn't buy happiness. Just like Daisy’s voice sounds like money, the upper class of the 1920s was focused on money and material things, but they were not as happy as they seem.

"I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong." (Fitzgerald 103) Tom views Gatsby's wealth as proof of his being a fraud because of his illegal connections and involvement in illegal activities. Furthermore, Tom thinks that Gatsby's illegal dealing of alcohol implies him being a criminal, and Tom believes that is how Gatsby got his money. Tom "made a small investigation of this fellow," believing that Gatsby is a criminal.

In “The Great Gatsby” Fitzgerald presents editorial on an assortment of topics, — equity, control, insatiability, treachery, the American dream. Of the considerable number of subjects, maybe none is more all around created than that of social stratification. The Great Gatsby is viewed as a splendid bit of social discourse, offering a clear look into American life in the 1920s. Fitzgerald deliberately sets up his novel into particular gatherings in any case, at last, each gathering has its own issues to battle with, leaving an effective indication of what a problematic place the world truly is. By making unmistakable social classes — old cash, new cash, and no cash — Fitzgerald sends solid messages about the elitism running all through each stratum of society.

Have you ever noticed someone getting bullied for not having money, or their social status? Whether it is online or in person. We all have seen some type of this in one way or the other. The book, The Great Gatsby, is a great example of this. Tom makes fun of Gatsby to degrade him in front of Daisy.

“He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong.” In this paragraph Tom revealed Gatsby’s crime saying that Gatsby was doing illegal stuff, such as drugs and alcohol to make money. Gatsby is trying to become rich faster so he can be with Daisy because since her parents would rather have Daisy marry a rich man.

Brooke Jankwietz Ms. Clemons Adv. English III 20 March 2023 Effect of Social Classes The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and the poem “Brass Spittoons” by Langston Hughes highlights differences in class status and its effects during the early 20s. The Great Gatsby shows many different representations of social class and status throughout the book. There are also many different symbols and motifs used throughout the novel to help better produce the different social classes.

Whenever asked the question on how Gatsby maked his money, he would always answer that he built up a few drugstores and when his parents died he inherited money. Gatsby was never telling the truth about this; and Tom eventually figured this out. Gatsby wanted to appear as old money to impress Daisy which is why he lied. However, the reason why Gatsby never told the truth about how he made his money was because he was making his money illegally. In chapter seven, Tom accuses Gatsby of being a bootlegger, “He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter” (133).

He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong.” (7.127) Gatsby earned his fortune through the illegal sale and distribution of liquor. Rumors of Gatsby’s being a bootlegger circulated with partygoers in chapter four while indications that Gatsby may be involved in criminal activity are suggested in chapter five.

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 179). This quote captures the advantages the upper class has because of their money. Tom and Daisy’s actions left three people dead, yet they received no punishments .They put all their baggage on the lower class, and left them to pick up the pieces.     In The Great Gatsby, the theme of social class is very significant in the book. Scott F. Fitzgerald used the theme of social class to show the reader that it plays a much bigger role in life.

He turned to us and spoke rapidly. “He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t wrong.” Gatsby doesn’t deny Tom’s

Sometimes, people fail to fit in among their peers for a variety of reasons. In social situations, people often look down on specific groups or individuals for not fitting in. Sometimes people’s interests and behavior are too different from what is considered the norm, and they will be labeled as strange and unlikable. In other cases, they may be excluded because they come from a background or social class that causes people to look down on them. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Novel The Great Gatsby this occurs in the case of Jay Gatsby, who, despite his mansion, massive parties, and fancy car, never truly fits in among the people around him.

“No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members of the upper class are poor and miserable”(Adam Smith). In “The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald portrayed relentless themes that contributed a strong connection to the roaring twenties. One of which is the stratification of social classes that he purposely distinct to convey a strong message, that in the end each class faces their own obstacle. The author relates this theme through vivid visuals among the characteristics traits of the roaring twenties age, and how the social classes were evolved around arrogance, hate, love and selfishness. In the novel, Fitzgerald illustrated the separation of social classes among three ideologies that were known as; no money, new money, and old money.

In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald characterizes the 1920s as an era of decayed social and moral values. One of the major themes explored in this novel is the Hollowness of the Upper Class. The entire book revolves around money including power and little love. Coincidentally the three main characters of the novel belong to the upper class and throughout the novel Fitzgerald shows how this characters have become corrupted and have lost their morality due to excess money and success and this has led them to change their perspective towards other people and they have been portrayed as short-sighted to what is important in life. First of all, we have the main character of this novel, Gatsby who won’t stop at nothing to become rich overnight in illegal dealings with mobsters such as Wolfsheim in order to conquer Daisy’s heart.”

In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby we see this theme played out through the character of Daisy. During the writing of Gatsby Fitzgerald weaves in aspects of his own life where he was on the receiving end of this characteristic of human nature. “With Gatsby, [F. Scott Fitzgerald] creates a character with a similar situation to his own; he is motivated to become wealthy after his love interest, Daisy, marries a very wealthy man rather than waiting for Gatsby to earn his income” (Wood, 2007, p. 5). Fitzgerald shows us the effects of the struggle for greater wealth has had on Daisy.