Examples Of Paganism In The Great Gatsby
Through his portrayal of the events in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald condemns the lack of morality and spirituality during the 1920's. He portrays the 1920's as a time where society has substituted materialism and instant gratification in place of structure and spirituality. He emphasizes the society's moral blindness in many characters, including those who have money and those who lack it. The community, as a whole, refuses to condemn unlawful activity and wrongdoings. By means of the billboard in the valley of ashes, he connotes the possibility of paganism as well.
Tom Buchanan, Daisy's "hulking brute of a husband", epitomizes a lack of morality. He believes in racial superiority and that everything good in society has resulted from the work …show more content…
Tom willingly admits his affair, yet Daisy has come to ignore it, at least outwardly. Tom thinks that Daisy will understand his affairs, believing "Once and a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time." The fact that Daisy refuses to condemn Tom's actions adds to Fitzgerald's portrayal of society's view on sin during the 1920's. Because society during the 1920's doesn't hold marriage in a sacrosanct position, they tolerate sins such as infidelity and …show more content…
While she does seemingly love Tom, her habits prove that she has greater motives for having an affair. Although she has the decency to keep her affair a secret to her husband, her behavior leads him to realize what has happened. Instead of divorce, he decides that they will move away to split her from her affair. This again restates society's refusal to express disapproval toward sin, as Myrtle's husband refuses to condemn her in any severe manner.
Jordan Baker acts as a means of addressing another sin, due to her frequent dishonesty. Because a scandal had erupted about her moving a ball during a golf tournament, Nick recognizes her at the Buchanan's party. Nick states that she had once left a borrowed car out in the rain, then lied about it. Jordan, because of her dishonest manner, can not endure being at a disadvantage. However, Nick states "Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply". Even knowing of her dishonesty, Nick still casually dates Jordan. Again, the sins of society during the 1920's are largely
Tom Buchanan, Daisy's "hulking brute of a husband", epitomizes a lack of morality. He believes in racial superiority and that everything good in society has resulted from the work …show more content…
Tom willingly admits his affair, yet Daisy has come to ignore it, at least outwardly. Tom thinks that Daisy will understand his affairs, believing "Once and a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time." The fact that Daisy refuses to condemn Tom's actions adds to Fitzgerald's portrayal of society's view on sin during the 1920's. Because society during the 1920's doesn't hold marriage in a sacrosanct position, they tolerate sins such as infidelity and …show more content…
While she does seemingly love Tom, her habits prove that she has greater motives for having an affair. Although she has the decency to keep her affair a secret to her husband, her behavior leads him to realize what has happened. Instead of divorce, he decides that they will move away to split her from her affair. This again restates society's refusal to express disapproval toward sin, as Myrtle's husband refuses to condemn her in any severe manner.
Jordan Baker acts as a means of addressing another sin, due to her frequent dishonesty. Because a scandal had erupted about her moving a ball during a golf tournament, Nick recognizes her at the Buchanan's party. Nick states that she had once left a borrowed car out in the rain, then lied about it. Jordan, because of her dishonest manner, can not endure being at a disadvantage. However, Nick states "Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply". Even knowing of her dishonesty, Nick still casually dates Jordan. Again, the sins of society during the 1920's are largely