Old and New Reflected in The Great Gatsby Essay

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was first promulgated in 1925. The United States was prospering as part of its post terra firma War I recovery and this meant that the American multitude prospered as well. entirely as history will tell us the booming 20s were a fleeting time and America was on a fast track of change. By the end of the 20s a depression was on the horizon and the hug drugnce of the early part of decade was over. The Great Gatsby, although non popular in its day, is representative of this old way of life giving over to a new-fangleder one.In addition, to changing economics in that respect was a shift in morals and American values. Gatsbys character illustrates all of the greedy and excessive ways of the old traditions. The novel takes rank during the summer of 1922 in which Nick Carraway, a Minnesota native becomes friends with his populate Jay Gatsby. Carraway had recently moved into the West Egg area, where other young and impudently wealthy New Yor k residents flock toward. One is that of the greed and excessivness of the old ways.In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I have been turning over in my mind ever since, Whenever you sapidity like criticizing any one, he said. Just remember that all of the people of the world have not had the opportunities you have, (Fitzgerald, 1925, p. 8). Nicks character represents the new way. He is reserved when casting judgment and his simple lifestyle reflects the nous that wealth need not flaunt itself. Gatsby threw regular parties in which he displayed excessive amounts of wealth.However, it seems that Gatsby is a lonely character. And although Nick is the opposite of Gatsby he recognizes that it isnt Gatsby himself that is bad. It is his wealth and all of the people who feed off of Gatsby for his money. Gatsby turned step up to be alright in the end it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul spread floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily clo sed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men, (Fitzgerald, p. 13). Nick was obviously turned off by the partying and excessiveness of Gatsbys lifestyle.One of the major motifs in this novel includes geography and how the sense of place affects ones moral background. For example Nick is from the Midwest, where life has a slower pace. In addition, the Midwestern philosophy of life includes such quips as the one from the beginning of the novel where Nick is cautioned intimately making judgments about other people. However, those from New York, specifically from East Egg are not as virtuous. According to Nicks assessment the easterners are faultfinding(prenominal) and decadent.From East Egg, then, came the Chester Beckers and the Leeches, and a man named Bunsen, whom I knew at Yale, and Doctor Webster Civet, who was drowned expire summer up in Maine. And the Hornbeams and the Willie Voltaires, and a whole clan named Blackbuck, who ever gathered in a corner and flipped up their noses like goats at whosoever came near. And the Ismays and the Chrysties (or rather Hubert Auerbach and Mr. Chrysties wife), and Edgar Beaver, whose hair, they say, turned cotton-white one winter afternoon for no good reason at all, (Fitzgerald, 1925, p.34). The sense of place being a factor is symbolized in the Valley of Ashes which seperates New York, disgrace of moral decay, and the West, land of moral vigor. Other symbols in this novel include the green leisurely which flashes on and off at the edge of the character Daisys dock. This igniter is the green light for Gatsbys hopes and future. Which ultimatly cause his demise as well. book of facts Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. New York Charles Scribners Sons.