By: Matthew Yoon

Throughout human history, many events that took place in certain periods led to today’s world. In The Great Gatsby, the author F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the negative effects of those who pursued the American Dream through a man named Jay Gatsby’s corrupted relationship with others. The story is narrated from Nick’s point of view who recalled the memory of the protagonist Jay Gatsby who threw extravagant parties every other day in his mansion, located across the bay from Tom and Daisy’s house. Once in love with Daisy five years ago, before her marriage to Tom from the wealthy heritage on the East Coast, Gatsby now wanted Daisy back in his life since he had become equivalent in wealth to Tom. Mainly revolving around Gatsby, Tom, Daisy, and Myrtle, the story depicts the corrupted relationships of marriage and the materialistic society that make the image of the early 1900s in America. Therefore, Fitzgerald uses characterization to describe the facets of America during the Roaring Twenties by showing their features like the corruption of relationships, the unfair attitude towards women, and materialism through Daisy, Gatsby, Tom, and Mrs. and Mr. Wilson.

To begin with, Gatsby and Tom represent the upper class of American society who want to show their knowledge and possessions to others to prove how they are better than others. For example, while Nick and Daisy are chatting, Tom interrupts, abruptly showing a book, and starts saying, “‘It’s all scientific stuff; it’s been proved… Well, these books are all scientific,’ insisted Tom, glancing at her impatiently” (Fitzgerald 13). Tom did this as if others around him were not

smart enough to understand his explanation. Since Tom repeatedly emphasized his in-depth studies and interests based on scientific knowledge, he was arrogant and proud and underestimated those around him. Similarly, when Gatsby is driving in the car with Nick, Gatsby suddenly reveals to him that, “He’ll tell [Nick] God’s truth… [He is] the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West — All dead now. [He] was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all [his] ancestors have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition” (Fitzgerald 65). To convince Nick, Gatsby explained how wealthy and educated his ancestors were and that he was from an upper-class family that valued tradition. As shown, Gatsby wanted to show off his financial status, and where he came from to reassure his friend that Gatsby himself was trustworthy. All in all, Tom and Gatsby represent how absurdly rich people can be.

Moreover, Daisy and Myrtle represent the unfair treatment of women in the early 1900s.

For example, Daisy was aware of Tom cheating on her but could not do anything because of women’s social status back then, so she “hope[d her daughter would] be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 17). Even though Tom was having an affair with Myrtle who Daisy also knew, the fact that Daisy could not stop or fight against Tom’s unfaithfulness made her feel unvalued. Knowing that society back then had gender discrimination, Daisy only hoped that her daughter was foolish enough not to realize how mistreated she would be in the future. Moreover, George Wilson who found out about the affair of his wife Myrtle physically restrained her and “got [his] wife locked in up” to such an extent that she shouted out, “Beat me! […] Throw me down and beat me” (Fitzgerald 136-137). Since Myrtle had been abused by Wilson, she was accustomed to being treated harshly. This violence reveals that women were obligated to be submissive to their husbands not to lose the husband.

Likewise, husbands mistreated their wives because they felt superior to women in society back then.

Finally, Tom and Daisy depict the corruption of relationships, especially marriage, because of their affairs with Mrs. Wilson and Gatsby. For example, when Tom and Nick got off the train at Ash-Heaps that was intended to head to New York, Tom revealed to Nick that “[He wanted Nick] to meet [his] girl” (Fitzgerald 24). Although Nick was Daisy’s cousin, Tom still introduced Nick to whom he said was his girl other than Daisy. This depicts how unfaithful marriages were common back in the time because Tom thought having many relationships was his privilege. Furthermore, when Gatsby and Tom are fighting over Daisy, Daisy complains to Gatsby “Oh, you want too much! […] I love you now — Isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past […] I did love [Tom] once — but I loved you too” (Fitzgerald 132). Although Tom was Daisy’s husband whom Daisy used to believe she loved, she now loved Gatsby over Tom. It can be implied how fickle human relationships could be and how common having an affair was in a relationship in the past. All together, Tom and Daisy show how corrupted relationships were back then.

By showing their features like the corruption of relationships, the unfair attitude towards women, and materialism through Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom, Fitzgerald uses characterization to describe the facets of America during the Roaring Twenties in the early 1900s.

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