Brief Analysis of the Tragic Sense of Society in The Great Gatsby

黃二靚

【Abstract】F. Scott. Fitzgerald is famous recorder and spokesman of Jazz Age. He is known for the sensitive perspective of the society and the domination of tragic sense in his works. The Great Gatsby is Fitzgeralds masterpiece. In the novel， Fitzgerald expresses a disillusive feeling and tragic sense of society. Through analysis of connotation of tragic sense of society and its reflection in The Great Gatsby， a further and comprehensive understanding of tragic sense of society in Fitzgeralds works can be achieved.

【Key words】Scott. Fitzgerald； tragic sense of society； The Great Gatsby

The tragic sense of society is often caused by the conflicts between individual and the real social environment. In the novel by Fitzgerald， tragic fates of protagonists are not only caused by deficiency in personality but also by their confrontation with the social environment. The Great Gatsby is Fitzgeralds masterpiece and a typical reflection of Fitzgeralds tragic sense of society. In the novel， the connotation of social tragedy mainly includes three aspects： the lost of traditional value， moral degeneration and ineffaceable gap between classes.

1. Lost of traditional value in The Great Gatsby

The lost of traditional value in The Great Gatsby is caused by the World War I and the industrial revolution. On one hand， the economic boom brought about by industrial revolution and the windfall from the World War I allowed the whole society to enjoy an unprecedentedly material abundance， which gave birth to a mercenary value. One the other hand， the violence and cruelty of World War I ruined the values the older generations always held and destroyed peoples dream of better life. Looking from the surface that American seems to develop at a rapid speed and go ahead of other country. In fact， the tradition of American spirit which is the basis of the whole society falls back. Just like Fitzgerald said at the end of The Great Gatsby “So we beat on， boats against the current， carried back ceaselessly into the past.”

2. Moral degeneration of society in The Great Gatsby

During the 1920s， some people from lower class coined money over night， became the nouveaux riche because of the economic boom and were eager to improve their social position. The desire for quick success brings about the moral degeneration.

In The Great Gatsby， Gatsby is a typical representative of moral degeneration， which is showed by Gatsbys attitude towards success and wealth. Gatsby takes money as the key opening the door leading to the upper class. Thus， the desire for quick success spurs him to rush for his goal by pretending to be a descendant of a rich family and engaging in profitable but illegal business like bootlegger， gamblers and speculator. Then when he becomes rich， he buys gigantic Gothic mansion， holds lavish and luxury parties and drives expensive car. His self- indulgence and moral degeneration bring him the great wealth but finally ruin him.

3. Ineffaceable gap between classes in The Great Gatsby

America has been known as a “melting pot”， but the gap between classes has existed even till now. The conflict in value， lifestyle and social status between the nouveaux riche and the old rich is fierce and cannot be harmonized.

In The Great Gatsby， the Long Land is divided into West Egg and East Egg which respectively symbolize two different social groups-the nouveaux riche and the old rich. The nouveaux riche pursues a life of gorgeousness and ostentation with overall suspect to the authority. Their way of accumulating wealth is often disguised by the old rich. Meanwhile， as typical representative of the old rich， Tom and Daisy embraces inborn privilege and upper social status. They are hypocritical， selfish， cruel and arrogant. For them， love， kinship， even child are just the tool for leisure and strengthen their position. Daisy marries Tom just because his wealth satisfies her vanity.

Conclusion

As the most representative novelists of the 1920s in American literature， Fitzgerald showed a profoundly tragic sense of society in his works. Through the analysis about the connotation of tragic sense of society in The Great Gatsby， we can get more hidden information of the human nature， hope and disillusion that time and a better understanding about the literary achievement Fitzgerald has obtained.

References：

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