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Example research essay topic: Materialism And Idealism In The Great Gatsby - 2,915 words

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MATERIALISM AND IDEALISM IN THE GREAT GATSBY (1) The history shows that the only the reason, which allowed every great nation to gain political and cultural prominence, was the fact that the nation's founders were being driven by the idealism alone. This rule applies to the ancient Greece and Rome, to the Western civilization, which sprung out of the spirit of antiquity and also to the United States, which became a magnet to all kind of adventures, even before the Declaration of Independence. It is the spirit of idealism that pushed westwards the boundaries of the frontier. Yet, history also tells us that, with an accumulation of material goods and with people loosing their original racial purity, comes degradation.

This happens when people begin to forget that there are also a duties, along with the rights, which causes them to become a merely pleasure seekers. F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novel The Great Gatsby was able to sense the barely noticeable stench of social decomposition, which started to affect American nation, after the end of World War 1. This period in American history is now described as exciting or unconventional by the spiritual descendants of the original corruptions. The great ideal values, which were behind the creation of U.

S. , are referred to, by the same people, as retrogressive or chauvinist. Fitzgerald's original goal to expose the moral depravity of the age of jazz is thought of, as the naive attempt of over idealistic individual to deny the reality. The age of jazz in America is associated with the time between the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Great Depression. Many modern critics suggests that the indulgence in decadence, on the part of novel's many characters, comes as a result of their moral standards sinking low, due to the fact that they have experienced a front line horrors themselves.

This, of course, is not the truth. The moral decadence in The Great Gatsby is strongly linked to the new money - the people who started out as the war profiteers and not the soldiers. (2) Let us analyse the plot briefly, so that we will be able to refine the idealist and the materialist motives in Fitzgerald's novel. The Great Gatsby storyline is very much autobiographic. In it, the young graduate of Yale, Nick Carraway moves to New York, on the account of business.

Author uses him as the narrator, because he perfectly fits for this role, being neither too idealistic, no cynical materialist, like Jordan Baker, who he loathed and liked, at the same time. Nick settles down in the the area of West Egg, known for its tasteless notoriety. His neighbour happens to be a rather mysterious figure, Jay Gatsby, who lives in a huge Gothic mansion and throws decadent parties every Saturday. Gradually, Nick learns a great deal about Gatsby, but the more he learns, the more enigmatic this character appears to him.

There are things about Gatsby that Nick cannot quite relate. On one hand, he represents everything that Nick despised, being a cultured and educated man the absence of taste, the tendency to show off own riches, the indulgence in luxurious lifestyle, while observing the suffering of poor people. On the other, Gatsby's living style appears to have a deeper motive, as he does not seem to enjoy neither his parties, nor his guests. Later Nick learns that Gatsby's display of wealth was nothing but an attempt to attract Nick's cousin Daisy, who he had met in 1917, while being poor and miserable. His inner feeling of self-deficiency had prevented him from pursuing a romantic affair with her back than. Still, he appears as having even less confidence, when it comes to this again, even after he gained his fortune.

Nick agrees to assist Gatsby in setting up a rendezvous with Daisy, who was married, by that time. Than follows the series of unfortunate events, which lead Gatsby to his death a quite expected ending, given the fact of all the circumstances. The irony lies in the fact that, in order to be able to pursue his idealistic dream, Gatsby had to engage in illegal activities, where was only one goal money. The most touching scene in the book is when Gatsby stands in front of his mansion, while extending his hands towards a dim green light, which could be seen across the water: ... he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock (Fitzgerald, Ch. 1).

In a way, we can think of this green light as having a metaphoric meaning of an American dream. Its main property is illusiveness. Yet, it is the same reason why it draws people with such irresistible power. The image of Daisy, which Gatsby created in his mind, had very little in common with the real Daisy, a boring housewife and a mother of two. Still, it is the fictional image of Daisy that is more important, in the socio-political sense of this word. French sociologist Gustav Le Bon once suggested that: Not truth, but error has always been the chief factor in the evolution of nations.

The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim (Le Bon, p. 110). Fitzgerald's talent, as a writer, is based on his ability to compose character out of completely opposite psychological values and still make him believable. This is exactly the case with Gatsby.

Even though the fact that he clearly lacks any factual knowledge, it never deprives him out of his aura of sophistication: I thought you inherited your money. I did, old sport, he said automatically, but I lost most of it in the big panic the panic of the war. I think he hardly knew what he was saying, for when I asked him what business he was in he answered, Thats my affair, before he realized that it wasnt the appropriate reply (Fitzgerald, Ch. 5). This is because the new money, even though deprived of fine manners, radiated a shining halo of mystery and adventure around them, unlike the old aristocracy, who had lost its will to power. The modern day drug dealers and gangsters are perceived by the general public in exactly the same way.

There is absolutely nothing romantic about their business, as a matter of fact, it is very repulsive. They are only concerned about the money and nothing else. Nevertheless, they are willing to undertake a certain risk, while trying to achieve their dream of financial security. That's why Hollywood produces a countless movies about crooks and murderers, who are actually good inside. Apparently, these movies are in the big demand in America, because of the genetic memory of this nation, which carries the notion that the American individualism is actually a fusion between materialism and idealism. We can definitely say that Gatsby is an idealist, in the best sense of this word.

Yet, he is the man of this world and this is why he chooses to pursue his idealistic dream through achieving a financial freedom. But it is him, who has control over the money and not the other way around. He observes the decadence and corruption around him, without being even slightly corrupted. He is absolutely confident, when it comes to interacting with other people. Fitzgerald shows him as a great psychologist, as well: He smiled understandingly much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.

It factor seemed to faceted whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey (Fitzgerald, Ph. 3). There is no doubt that Gatsby is a tragic character. He is an example of man, who was being born at the wrong time in the wrong place. The fact that he can influence people by his charismatic personality and that he has taste for the risk, suggests that his real calling was probably being a great military leader or politician, in the age when distinctive personal qualities allowed people to quickly advance up the social ladder, without having to engage in illegal activities. The tragedy lies in fact that he couldn't find the better use of his talents than to acquire an ill gotten riches.

But this is not because he wanted it, but because the degenerative society had forced him to do so. In the very same way, the very best elements in our society are forced into the marginalization. Only very few of them decide to become cops, while majority become whether criminals or mercenaries. From the social prospective, Gatsby is evil. But the concept of evil has been altered to a large degree lately in 20 th century. It is no more a villain with a bloody knife in his hand that represents the ultimate menace to us, but a faceless bureaucrat with a pen and suitcase, which has an immense power over peoples lives.

In a way, we talk of a social machine that we associate with an ultimate evil in modern times. It is with the raise of industrialist society that we see the heroic character most likely going to end up in jail, although the public sympathies would still be with him. (3) The other characters in the novel are also marked with a split personality syndrome, which usually comes as the result of internal antagonism between the spirit and body. This is due to the fact that their education was based on the moral principles that did not correspond to the surrounding reality. Usually, the result of such internal division is cynicism. Nick Carraway appears to be a very conventional young man, raised in wealthy family, which enabled him exercise a certain degree of liberalism towards others.

He was a religious person, in the way the most Americans are. Going to Church once a week and giving few pennies to the poor makes them to consider themselves as a Saints, of some sort, definitely worthy of salvation. As a typical White Protestant, his goal was liberalism his own views to the degree, where they would not disturb his comfortable living. Yet, after meeting Gatsby, Nick began to suspect that all his notions about the relation between the wealth and the labour, were hopelessly outdated. His new friend was able to convince him that all that is needed to succeed in life, is the strong idealistic worldview, which allows one to step over the principles of conventional morality: I couldnt forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused (Fitzgerald, Ch. 9).

We can say that, for a while, Nick balanced on the edge of conventional morality, trying not to look into the abyss, on which Gatsby's philosophy was being based. This is because he subconsciously knew that if one looks long enough into the abyss, the abyss begins to look back, even though it is doubtful that he had ever read Nietzsche. But, at the end of the story, Nick acts in a classical conformist way he leaves West Egg and moves back to the Midwest, where nothing can disturb his peace of mind. Where he can continue to engage in materialistic pursuit, without having to deal with psychological discomfort. He chooses the materialism over idealism. It is important to understand that the idealism does not always have the positive values.

In fact, Gatsby's way of life was the ultimate expression of spiritual freedom that one acquires, after breaking ties with system of beliefs that do not correspond to the realities of life. This is why Gatsby appears as being much more idealistic than Nick, he doesn't hesitate to use his intelligence, in order to reach his goal, even though that he knows that people will never understand this. Nick, on the other hand, lacks the stamina to be just as careless as Gatsby, although, on several occasions he acts, on his behalf, setting up date with Daisy, even though that he knows that she is married to Tom. But, just like a true Christian, Nick finds an honorable excuse for this kind of behaviour. This proves him as being a hypocrite. If he was a true idealist, he would have whether denied any assistance to Gatsby or helped him, without having any second thoughts. (4) Jordan Baker is the character, who also lacks an idealism, although that she seem to share many same ideas with Gatsby.

But she is the cynic of the worst kind. While Gatsby denied the conventional morality, because its principles were much inferior to his own idealistic aspirations, Jordan denies everything for the sake of denial. And on top of that, her brain is not too overloaded with an intellect. She could very well be the Jenifer Lopez of twentieths. Sophisticated God, Im sophisticated! - Jordan tries to assure everybody, while knowing very well that her sophistication is nothing but a pose. A cheap imitation of what really stands for this term.

Her life philosophy appears to be a quite simple: And I like large parties. Theyre so intimate. At small parties there isnt any privacy (Fitzgerald. Ch. 3).

Jordan is the ultimate hedonist, like all of Gatsby's guests, who are simply after the sensuous pleasures that life can offer. Such categories as virtue, duty, courage, self-sacrifice for the sake of higher good are virtually unknown for them. A typical Roman crowd, in the time of Rome's decline. While Gatsby's non-conformism has clearly a higher goal, Jordan's extravagant behaviour can only be explained by her inner understanding of the fact that she is not better than any other ordinary women. She tries to make a statement, by denying a traditional values, but she cannot offer anything in return. The only people who would really be interested in learning more about her, are the psychiatrists, for the purely professional reasons.

It is not too hard to imagine Jordan as a forerunner of women's liberation movement or something similar. In my opinion, she is totally deprived of any kind of idealism, because she simply did not inherit it genetically, even though that she might have heard that such quality exists in other people. Conclusion I consider F. Scott Fitzgerald historically belonging to the third generation of White people.

This generation, unlike two previous ones, is totally deprived of inner strength and beauty, which allowed it to divide and conquer the world, but it still possesses a supreme intellect. That is why many works of literature, written by representatives of this generation, are usually sophisticated to the point, where the real idea of the book might be something different from what even the author himself believed it to be. I think this is the case with Fitzgerald's novel. Even though that it is written in the form of love story, the true essence of his novel seems to be something else.

Author was able to foresee that the decadence, described in his novel, was not going to bring an end to the Western civilization, like many of his contemporaries felt. As a matter of fact, Fitzgerald, without realising it, showed us that there is something new developing underneath of decadence and corruption a new generation, which, despite the fact that it was born in spiritual depravity, possessed a strong idealism and was not bound by the prejudices of Christian morality. The idealism and materialism are twisted in very whimsical form in The Great Gatsby and it takes a certain degree of intelligence, on the part of reader, to realise it. The one derives from another and the other way around. Fitzgerald was well aware of it, as he himself experienced the same set of emotions that his narrator is going through.

It just proves one more time the fact that one's existence is much more complicated phenomenon than we think. But it is the character's idealism that justifies his actions, in the eyes of history, even if contemporaries might think that there can never be a justification. This is the reason why Fitzgerald's novel is considered as one of the greatest works of American literature in 20 th century. Bibliography: Anders, Tom. Reaching the Post-Christian Generation. 1999.

John Mark Ministries. May 10, 2006 web Dowd, Maureen What's a Modern Girl to Do? . October 30, 2005. The New York Times.

May 10, 2006. web Fitzgerald, Scott The Great Gatsby. September, 2002. Project Gutenberg of Australia eBook.

May 10, 2006. web Le Bon, Gustav The Crowd: A Study of Popular Mind. 2002. University of Virginia. Electronic Text Center.

May 10, 2006. web 1917 President Woodrow Wilson's War Message. 2002. The World War I Document Archive. May 10, 2006.

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