Theme Of God In The Great Gatsby
The characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald's book, The Great Gatsby, specifically Tom Buchanan and Gatsby, view God and their world as wasted, faded, empty, and dead. Their opinion of God is symbolized by the Valley of Ashes being looked upon by the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, and it forms the idea that the men are their own gods, being able to act according to their self-set morals and rules. Throughout the story Fitzgerald shows readers evidence of this through the contrast between Tom and Gatsby. He also uses comments and descriptions of the Valley of Ashes and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. Lastly, the impact that the absence of God has in the life of Tom and Gatsby, which reflects their actions, that are influenced by their self-set morals
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“On Sunday morning while church bells rang in the villages alongshore, the world and its mistress returned to Gatsby’s house and twinkled hilariously on his lawn,” shows the disregard for the worshipping of God on the Sabbath and instead the personal pleasure and selfish desire of people pursuing earthly things(61). Instead of worshipping God, Gatsby worships himself by throwing a party that happens to be full of illegal alcohol and irresponsible drunks. Another example of this is Tom’s affair with Myrtle and Gatsby’s affair with Daisy. Both men treat the women like possessions rather than people. Tom trades Daisy for a car on the way to New York City, and Gatsby forces Daisy to say she never loved Tom, only him, in the hotel room even though she loved them both. The men do not care of the consequences, just of their pleasure and the power in ruling their own worlds. Instead of instituting God within their own worlds and households, they push Him out and crown themselves. Their parties also prove this because Tom makes his small and controlled. He comes and goes when he pleases and does not allow an ill word about him to be shared. Gatsby’s parties are huge, entertaining, elaborate, and illegal. He does not care who attends, what they do, or what they say about him. All of these thing point to the fact that the absence of god in the character’s life causes them to idolize themselves and their power in their own
“On Sunday morning while church bells rang in the villages alongshore, the world and its mistress returned to Gatsby’s house and twinkled hilariously on his lawn,” shows the disregard for the worshipping of God on the Sabbath and instead the personal pleasure and selfish desire of people pursuing earthly things(61). Instead of worshipping God, Gatsby worships himself by throwing a party that happens to be full of illegal alcohol and irresponsible drunks. Another example of this is Tom’s affair with Myrtle and Gatsby’s affair with Daisy. Both men treat the women like possessions rather than people. Tom trades Daisy for a car on the way to New York City, and Gatsby forces Daisy to say she never loved Tom, only him, in the hotel room even though she loved them both. The men do not care of the consequences, just of their pleasure and the power in ruling their own worlds. Instead of instituting God within their own worlds and households, they push Him out and crown themselves. Their parties also prove this because Tom makes his small and controlled. He comes and goes when he pleases and does not allow an ill word about him to be shared. Gatsby’s parties are huge, entertaining, elaborate, and illegal. He does not care who attends, what they do, or what they say about him. All of these thing point to the fact that the absence of god in the character’s life causes them to idolize themselves and their power in their own