The Great Gatsby Distortion Of The American — страница 2

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they have radios, and they think nothing of jaunts to Atlantic City, Boston or Canada that many of the old residents never made in an entire lifetime. (19) As one can see, people throughout the Twentieth Century have thought nothing of the modern day conveniences they now have. The same is still true in today?s society, but people seem to be more aware of luxuries than people of the ?20?s. One of the largest and most talked about parts of the American Dream, is that when one enters the real world he/she will enter the workforce as an employee in his/her desired career. In this career, he/she believes that if he/she works hard, he/she will earn great success. Sadly, in the novel The Great Gatsby and in the 1920?s this is, and was almost a myth. George Wilson is a mechanic, and in

the novel it is unclear if that is what he always wanted to be. For the sake of this paper, one can assume that being a mechanic is his dream job. Unfortunately, George Wilson?s business seems to be on the brink of bankruptcy. One can also assume that his business has been like this for a long time and that he and his wife Myrtle have been saving every cent they earned just to get by. The following quote is from The Great Gatsby and it gives Nick Caraway?s view of George Wilson?s business: The interior was unprosperous and bare; the only car visible was the dust-covered wreck of a Ford, which crouched, in a dim corner. The proprietor himself appeared in the door of an office, wiping his hands on a piece of waste. When he saw us a damp gleam of hope sprang into his light blue

eyes. (Fitzgerald 25) From the above quote, one should notice the bareness of the garage, and how eager George is, as he sees potential customers approaching. Although George does not receive much business from Tom Buchanan, he is very courteous to him. He believes Tom might send his ?rich? friends to become clients of his. Stanley Lebergott of Wesleyan University explains in the book, Americans: An Economic Record, the distribution of wealth in the 1920s. Those in the upper 5 percent of the income distribution increased their share of the national income. Labor?s share of the national income did not rise at all, and workers suffered from unemployment. By implication, then, the decade differed little from earlier ones (431). This shows why George Wilson and others like him remain

in a slump and do not prosper in business, whereas people like Tom Buchanan, have an increase in their yearly earnings. It almost seems that the statement; ?hard work does not always equal success? was a false statement in the 20?s. If a person only looks at the top five percent of the income bracket, they may be right. However, if a person were to look at the other ninety-five percent, this person would see that the statement is true. The only way anyone made money in the ?20s was by participating in ?speakeasies? or by ?bootlegging? and both were illegal. Another distortion of the American Dream in the novel is through marriage. Generally, when people get married it is because they love one another, but in The Great Gatsby, the upper class?s weddings are mainly for social

purposes. In the upper class, weddings are similar to how high school seniors? pair up for prom, they make sure the Prom King and Prom Queen attend the Prom as a couple. Seen as the ?perfect? couple, these two people compliment each other in every way. In the novel, when Nick Caraway is visiting his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan, it is obvious that they are not truly in love but they are married because their social standings make them perfect for one another. While Nick is visiting, Daisy and Tom invite him to stay for dinner. While dinner is going on, Tom receives a telephone call. Daisy knowing who it is becomes very upset and leaves the table. It is then that Jordan Baker, another guest, informs Nick about Tom?s affair. She tells Nick that, ?Tom?s got some woman

in New York? (Fitzgerald 15). Tom having a mistress in New York shows how unfaithful he is in marriage. Adversely having an affair was not uncommon in the ?20?s, knowing this one can tell that the morals of the time were not very strong. Shown in the movie Night after Night, are the loose morals of the 20?s. The once-rich society flapper, with whom Raft falls in love, is roughed up by him and told that she is just ?another dame with a skirt on.? The only difference between her and a cheap girl is how she manicures her nails. (Allen 87) Throughout the ?20?s, men used and disrespected many women because they felt they women were inferior. Women have long since risen above this and can be very demanding of the respect that they deserve. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald is trying to