9th blog of this project 12-07-14
When I was reading the
Great Gatsby, I was wondering: Why do we not hear at all from the lower class
of people? I am talking about all the people that we heard about in American
Studies, all the people who live in those building complexes who were mainly immigrants
to America. I came to the semi-conclusion that had something to do with what The
Great Gatsby is also know for, The Great American Novel. What I am trying to
say is that maybe the lower class is under represented because why would something
that represents America what to let people know about all the slums all the bad
stuff about America. That would just not make sense. Try to see the Great
Gatsby as a commercial for America. The usual commercial would never name all
the bad things about the product, which in this case is a country. So I came to the conclusion that Mr. Fitzgerald
did not mention the underclass on purpose he only wanted to let people know
about the all the good times you could have in America. Which I think is also
the reason for the idea of 1 party for each chapter. I want to let people know
that I have only read to the fifth chapter so I do not know if this class of
people is mentioned later on in the novel.
I find the conclusion you made about the lower class in The Great Gatsby very interesting. I did not think of this novel as a commercial as I was reading it. However, I agree with your claim about the lower class being left out on purpose because Fitzgerald wanted to advertise America in a positive way.
ReplyDeleteYour take on the book is very interesting. I agree with you that Fitzgerald probably didn't want to promote the lower class and write much about them. Fitzgerald seems very fascinated by the night life and parties. People of the lower class didn't get to experience these things. This may be another reason that they are not mentioned in the book.
ReplyDeleteI feel that your conclusion is accurate, and I personally agree, however I would like to bring up that Fitzgerald set this book among the rich and powerful, a stratum of people in which it was rare to hear the lower class mentioned. So it may just be a setting issue rather than a purposeful omission.
ReplyDeleteMax, you make an insightful observation. If Fitzgerald is criticizing certain aspects of the American culture, he nevertheless chooses to focus only on one part of American society. Does that make his criticism less powerful?
ReplyDeleteI like your metaphor for the book and how its a kind of commercial for America but would like to also bring up the idea that maybe he didn't show the lower class simply because their story wasn't as interesting as the story of a group of crazy rich people fighting for love.
ReplyDelete