I am Kiki Chen.

This is my essential question for The Great Gatsby: Why is The Great Gatsby considered one of the most important American literary works that exemplifies modernism?

The change in American society after WWI
After World War I, America experienced a series of changes. America became the world’s dominant power; however, people struggled with the aftermath of the war (Keshmiri 1). In this modernism period, America experienced racism, injustice, poverty, the conflict between new wealth and old wealth, and new ideas of human existence (Introduction 1). Modernists believed that traditional ways of life, including religion and patriotism, no longer applied under the new circumstances. The generation that fought and experienced the world took on extravagant lifestyles to cope with the stress (Keshmiri 1).

Resonance
Written during this period, The Great Gatsby shows these changes in American society after WWI. Tom believes in white supremacy and relates it to science and how civilization is collapsing through other races. It might be assumed that the war has deeply affected people to put their faith on a different basis than before because their previous beliefs cannot prevent them from facing the hostilities, danger, and uncertainty in the world. While an increasing number of people desire to go to New York and gain wealth like Gatsby does, many find it difficult to reach the wealth, leading to an increase in bootleggers and gangsters. This is evident in the novel as readers see a lot of gangsters’ activities and Rosy’s murder and as Tom remarks that “A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know” (Fitzgerald 107). Fitzgerald portrays the conflict of old and new wealth when Tom and Daisy, old money in East Egg feel that they are more graceful and dislike the ways of new money in West Egg. Last, throughout the novel, the rich buy luxury goods, live in extravagant houses, and join parties to enjoy the time while they are still living.

During this period, people have witnessed the complexity and unfairness of the world, leading them to lose sight of the meaning of existence and instead descend to an “ethical wasteland”, as Fahimeh Keshmiri, PHD in English Literature, refers to in the article “The Disillusionment of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Dreams and Ideals in The Great Gatsby” (1). People excessively pursue material wealth and consumption instead of happiness. Aristocrats are careless, destructive and use their wealth to conceal their actions.

Resonance
Fitzgerald’s criticism of the lack of morals for the rich are evident in The Great Gatsby. In The Great Gatsby, the rich are superficial, sarcastic and arrogant, including their marriages. When Tom and Daisy put the burden of murder on Gatsby and walk away without feeling guilt, Fitzgerald compares them to children that “were careless .. they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 179). Most of the people gossip about how Gatsby gained his wealth but they still go to Gatsby’s parties. However, not a single one of these rich people come to Gatsby’s funeral, but instead run away from the affair and believe that trifle things such as picnics are more important than a funeral, while some even ask Nick to return the expensive gifts that they give to Gatsby before. These all show how superficial the rich are and that they care only about their own interest.

Modernist characters often try to transform themselves into a different person to make their way in the world (Introduction 3). If the circumstances they are born with are not satisfactory, they will go to great lengths to become better. This reflects the struggle of living in a society that has lost its morals and values (Introduction 3). Gatsby definitely exemplifies such a character who is unsatisfied with his poor background. By using his imagination to convince others that he received the wealth from his respectable, wealthy family, he transforms himself into a completely different person. He dreams about winning the heart of Daisy by achieving respectability through wealth. Sadly, his strong belief in himself and his dream leads him to his unfortunate fate as he meets the selfish and destructive aristocrats, including Daisy.

The modernist period was a time of destruction of the American dream, as society became corrupt with people’s immoral pursuit of wealth (Introduction 3-4). Even those who make a fortune often only possess the wealth as a mask for the emptiness underneath. Fitzgerald makes clear the difference between reality and dreams and how it leads to the breakdown of American dream in the 1920s. An impoverished farm boy that grows to be extremely rich, Gatsby personifies the American dream. He earns his money through ill means, showing that his life on the surface and Jay Gatsby is a fake. At the end, Fitzgerald describes the excitement Gatsby feels when he sees the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock which seems so close and attainable; however, “he did not know that it was already behind him” (Fitzgerald). At the end of the novel, Fitzgerald claims that everyone believes, if they work hard, they will reach the green light, their desired world; however, in reality, they will never be able to achieve their dreams because one can never change the past to recreate himself: “It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther … So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald 180). Moreover, Fitzgerald presents his ambiguous and conflicting view of the wealth in America as something he himself pursues yet does not revere (Introduction 4). Through Nick’s view toward wealth, Fitzgerald shows his desires of East Egg that is fancy and superior in his fantastic dream, but it is distorted because these people only care about their own self-interest.

Symbolism is used to represent the corrupt ethical values of people in the modernist society (Keshmiri 29). In The Great Gatsby, Daisy represents the immorality of the East Egg aristocrats (Keshmiri 17), and Jordan Baker is a well-known athlete who also belongs to East Egg and personifies a “commodity” who is part of the consumerist society (Keshmiri 19). The Valley of Ashes symbolizes the corrupt society resulting from excessive pursuit of wealth, and also the impoverishment and distress of the poor near New York (Keshmiri 29). The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg on the billboard over the valley represent the eyes of God overlooking the corrupt society (Keshmiri 30).

Summary
Through the connection between The Great Gatsby and the changes in American society after WWI, the moral wasteland of aristocrats, the main character’s recreation, the destruction of American dream compared to reality, and symbolism, The Great Gatsby is thus considered one of the most significant literary work that exemplifies modernism.