Marxist philosophy in The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel by the American author F.Scott Fitzgerald . The story primarily concerns with the American dream with the main character Jay Gatsby . The Marxist approach consider the American dream as “a restrained belief system is widely evident in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby” , through the narcissist attitudes of the individuals who are aspiring for the American Dream . Fitzgerald clearly establishes the discrepancy between social classes , the countless cities primarily East Egg and West Egg and the clash between the haves and the have-nots . In this regard Nick demonstrates a contrast between East Egg and West Egg , and Fitzgerald establishes a distinction between the “old money” and the “new money”. Fitzgerald portrays the members of West Egg as the “new money”, and the members of East Egg as the “old money”. Fitzgerald utilizes the contrast between these two cities to highlight the diversity of the two leading social classes. . The use of discrepancy aims at showing the dangers associated with capitalism .

In The Communist Manifesto Marx argues :” class shapes who we are, what we experience, and how we see ourselves. Not only this, but our class consciousness also determines how we perceive others”. As a matter of fact , Gatsby clearly illustrates America ; his “American dream” , and the class system . He grew up poor , the reason why Daisy rejected him since Gatsby has no prospect and family name . So Gatsby goes off and makes his fortune , he changes the way he talks, walks, everything. But despite his best efforts, flashes of his old life spark through. Something of his class origins remains. As it is stated in The Communist Manifesto “ a person born into poverty will still most often be seen as the same lower class person, no matter how rich and successful she may become” .

Money plays a key role in the novel , Nick’s words to depict Daisy as ‘gorgeous’, ‘thrilling’ and ‘lovely’ reveal towards the end of the novel that her voice is ‘full of money’ and that this is the true source of her attractiveness . The Great Gatsby Society has evolved to the point where money is the biggest factor in our lives.

The Great Gatsby is not a narrative of a gentleman , pursuing for the “American dream” , it is a reflection of class struggle , showing that the social circumstances in which the characters find themselves define them, and that these circumstances consist of core Marxist principles a Capitalistic society .

Cyrine Zaibi