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    Gatsbyessay 2

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    The student analyzes whether The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a romance or a satire. Through the narrator Nick's descriptions and judgments of the characters and their relationships, lifestyles, and behaviors, the student argues that Nick is poking fun and criticizing the characters to categorize the story as a satire rather than a romance. Nick highlights the scandalous relationships of the 1920s, exaggerates the differences between new and old money, and mocks the "new woman" figure to position the book as a satire using humor and exaggeration to criticize aspects of 1920s American society.

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    Gatsbyessay 2

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    24 views4 pages
    The student analyzes whether The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a romance or a satire. Through the narrator Nick's descriptions and judgments of the characters and their relationships, lifestyles, and behaviors, the student argues that Nick is poking fun and criticizing the characters to categorize the story as a satire rather than a romance. Nick highlights the scandalous relationships of the 1920s, exaggerates the differences between new and old money, and mocks the "new woman" figure to position the book as a satire using humor and exaggeration to criticize aspects of 1920s American society.

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    The student analyzes whether The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a romance or a satire. Through the narrator Nick's descriptions and judgments of the characters and their relationships, lifestyles, and behaviors, the student argues that Nick is poking fun and criticizing the characters to categorize the story as a satire rather than a romance. Nick highlights the scandalous relationships of the 1920s, exaggerates the differences between new and old money, and mocks the "new woman" figure to position the book as a satire using humor and exaggeration to criticize aspects of 1920s American society.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    24 views4 pages

    Gatsbyessay 2

    Uploaded by

    api-351182111
    The student analyzes whether The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a romance or a satire. Through the narrator Nick's descriptions and judgments of the characters and their relationships, lifestyles, and behaviors, the student argues that Nick is poking fun and criticizing the characters to categorize the story as a satire rather than a romance. Nick highlights the scandalous relationships of the 1920s, exaggerates the differences between new and old money, and mocks the "new woman" figure to position the book as a satire using humor and exaggeration to criticize aspects of 1920s American society.

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    You are on page 1of 4

    Isabella Gould

    English 110 2A

    Ms. Johnson

    May 1, 2017

    The Great Gatsby: A Satire or Romance

    Scandal, wealth, death, and lavish parties. In the book The Great Gatsby written by F

    Scott Fitzgerald one can see the love story of the wealthy Jay Gatsby and the already married

    Daisy Buchanan. On the outside it seems that the narrator, Nick, is describing the great romance

    of these two, but looking deeper one can see Nick actually poking fun at the story. Rather than a

    romance, could is a satire, which is defined as the use of humor, irony, or exaggeration bused to

    expose or criticize peoples stupidity or vices. A satire can be popularly seen in politics, topical

    issues, and literature. In this book one can constantly see Nick showing us the relationships

    between the characters, the different wealth classes of the 1920s, and the scandal of the new

    woman. The poking fun of the characters and the numerous judgments from Nick can lead this

    story away from the romance genre and move it to satire.

    First, Nick introduces us the the relationships between Daisy and Tom, Daisy and Gatsby,

    and Tom and Myrtle. During the 1920s, or the roaring twenties, divorce and scandal was not

    uncommon in relationships (History.com). This was seen as a time of profound change after the

    end of World War 1 in 1918, and new technologies and urbanization was widely spread

    (Cecconi). Scandal played a large part of this time which comes to no surprise to see the secrecy

    and relationships between the Buchanans, Gatsby, and Myrtle. Nick, the narrator and cousin of

    Daisy, sort of pokes fun at the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. He points out to us that
    Gould 2

    the two met five years prior and were rekindling the relationship from the past. Daisy and

    Gatsby are made out to be rich fools in the eyes of Nick. They seem to be careless of the way

    their actions are affecting characters such as Tom, the death of Myrtle, and those they interact

    with in the city. They are with each other in the city as if it is no big deal, and their relationship

    seems to be accepted by others except Tom begins to question it. Tom and Myrtle can be another

    example of scandal in relationships. Myrtle is made out to be a fool as well (and she is cheating

    on her husband!). Nicks main focus is the scandal and relationships of those around him. Nick is

    making the romance of the book seem foolish in a way he criticizes the characters and exposes

    vices.

    Another way Nick pokes fun at the characters is through their wealth. One sees the sides

    of new money and old money. The Buchanans are an example of old money in which their

    paycheck has been earned in a respectful manner and is spent in a respectful manner. On the

    other hand with new money, Gatsby has earned his wages in sketchy, secretive ways. He also

    sort of spends his money on whatever, is very careless, and seems to spend to impress.

    Commonly in the 1920s old money was known to be inherited wealth in upper-class families

    and these people were seen as prestigious. This book illustrates the Buchanan family to be of

    great wealth and many esteemed people know of them and respect this family name. As well as

    old money, new money came with labels and ideas attached. Rich people of new money

    where known to be first of lower class rank but later acquired lots of money to acquire goods or

    luxuries they did not have previously. For example, Gatsby came from a poor home but soon

    made his way up the social class through work, sketchy trade, and unconventional means. Nick
    Gould 3

    isnt really showing ways of satire to us with the wealth of the book, but does a good job in

    illustrating the two sides of wealth to us.

    The final point shown to us of The Great Gatsby is the new woman. One is presented

    with the newer, scandalous woman at Gatsby's parties (otherwise known as flappers), but one is

    also shown the true or traditional woman in this story. Flappers were known to drink, smoke,

    wear short skirts, and participate in unladylike activities. In reality not many women

    participated in flapper-related activities, but many did adopt a flapper-like wardrobe (Leaf Group

    Wardrobe). The new woman in this story could be those that attend Gatsbys parties, Jordan

    Baker, and even Daisy. At the beginning of the story Daisy resembled a more traditional woman

    but after spending bountiful amounts of time with Gatsby she seemed to resemble a new woman

    of the times. Nick shows us the change in Daisy from a well-mannered mother to a new and

    careless woman. Nick seems to exaggerate a lot with the new woman, especially those at

    Gatsbys party, and the wild activities that they participate in.

    This story is full of exaggerations that is used to write a satire. There is a very unlikely

    chance in real life that a young man could afford to host wild parties consistently and get away

    with the sketchy and maybe illegal work that Gatsby participates in. Another exaggeration from

    reality is the death of Myrtle. It is not likely for someone to run over and kill a pedestrian and get

    away with it from the police. The Great Gatsby can be take as a borderline lover story, but with

    all the exaggeration, mockery, and ridicule from Nick I believe that it is safe to classify this book

    as a satire. Anyway you see the book could fall into either category, but at the end of the day

    more scenes fall into the satire category.


    Gould 4

    Works Cited

    Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribners Sons, 1953.

    Sullivan, Nate. 1920s American Culture: City Life & Values. Study.com. April 21, 2017

    History.com Staff. The Roaring Twenties. History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010,

    April 20,

    2017.

    Cecconi, Emilio. What makes a great love story?. Quora.com. April 1, 2013. April 20, 2017.

    Leaf Group Writer. Examples of Satire About American Ideals. Education.seattlepi.com .

    Seattle

    PI, February 12, 2014. April 21, 2017.

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