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The women of Gatsby

A time of rebellious behavior and living life according to the new founded American Dream. The women of this era are portrayed in two different lights in the novel which are defiant and foolish. Women began to take a step forward in society during the 1920's. As women start to detach themselves from the stereotypical proper and prim manner in society, there are new stereotypes created. It is perfectly all right for women to drink and control themselves wildly at parties just as men do. They express their views much more and begin to take control of their newly established place in society. Daisy was treated as a lower person for years in her relationship with Tim. She allowed herself to be degraded as her husband committed acts of infidelity. Daisy eventually liberates herself when she has an affair with Gatsby. Now Daisy has found a way to bring Tom under her thumb. On the other hand, women also are portrayed as extremely foolish and easily used by men. Myrtle is an example for Tom is using her. To Tom, Myrtle is a game. He uses her for fun and never intends on having a real relationship with her. He goes to her when he pleases and she will always be there waiting for him. Tom does not treat her with respect, yet she continually returns to his side. Another view of women shows them as gossipers and out of control. When attending parties at Gatsby's house the women are intoxicated to where they can no longer walk or think properly. The women are said to have ripped their dresses, jumped in the fountains and danced wildly. At Tom and Myrtle's party, Myrtle's sister Catherine and her friends are gossiping the entire time. Catherine gives false information about Daisy, Tom and Myrtle. The American dream has a lot to do with the behavior patterns of the women in the novel. The novel shows women as becoming obessed with the 'perfect American life.' The women of gatsby will do whatever it take to fit in, which is recklessness, defiance and foolishness.

Who is Dan Cody? Dan Cody was Gatsby’s best friend. Gatsby also has a picture of him hanging in his wall. Gatsby’s new life began on the lake when he met Dan Cody. Dan Cody was a wealthy copper minor from Montana. Cody and Gatsby sailed around the world three times over the next five years. During this time, Gatsby served as steward, mate, skipper, and secretary for Dan. Gatsby chose then to abstain from alcohol forever after witnessing the destructive behaviors of Cody during his periods of drunkenness. Gatsby even had to jail Cody on occasion to prevent him from committing dangerous acts.
Dan is a somewhat coarse man who became immensely wealthy during the Gold Rush. He mentored Gatsby when he was a young man and gave him a taste of elite society. He taught him how to do business and he taught him all he new. Dan Cody also left Gatsby a large amount of money before he died because Gatsby had helped him and had taken care of him. Gatsby used this money to start the business that he is in now. And he uses what Dan Cody taught him to run his business. (http://www.novelguide.com/thegreatgatsby/characterprofiles.html)

Two selfish people in "The Great Gatsby" are Tom and Myrtle. Tom and Myrtle, unlike their partners, Daisy and Wilson are very selfish. Tom only wants what is beneficial to him, and so does Myrtle. They don't care about their partners or what they are going through. They only care if they are happy and if everything is going well for them. Tom doesn't care about Daisy's feelings. Tom only cares about Daisy's feelings and what she is doing if there is another man that wants to take her from Tom. For example, Tom only started caring about Daisy when he found out that Daisy and Gatsby were having an affair. For Tom's own selfish reason, because he wanted Daisy all to himself, he started to act like he actually cared for Daisy and that he loved Daisy and that he would never do anything to hurt her.
Also, Myrtle is very selfish. She doesn't care about anyone except herself and what is good for her. She doesn't care about her husband Wilson and his feelings also. The only person that Myrtle wants to be with is Tom, the person who she is having an affair with.(http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/q-and-a/wilsons-garage-symbol-isolation-selfishness-66369)

Unrequited Love

Unrequited love fits "The Great Gatsby" perfectly. Jay Gatsby is in love with Daisy and Daisy is in love with Gatsby. They both love each other very much. Even though Daisy is married she is still having an affair with Gatsby. Tom is having an affair with Myrtle. Even though Tom is having an affair on Daisy with Myrtle he still loves loves Daisy very much. Tom also cares for Daisy very much.
Daisy doesn't love Tom anymore. After she met Gatsby again after five years they fell in love. Even though Tom "claims" that he loves and cares for Daisy, Daisy knows that he doesn't really mean it. Since Tom loves Daisy but Daisy doesn't love Tom, this is unrequited love.
Another example of unrequited love is Wilson and and Myrtle. Wilson and Myrtle are married to each other, but Myrtle doesn't have any feelings toward Wilson. Even though Myrtle doesn't love Wilson, Wilson loves her and cares about her and would do anything for her. He would do anything that would make her happy. Myrtle is having an affair with Tom and she is jealous of Daisy and she wants Daisy and Tom to get a divorce. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrequited_love)

The Green Light

This book has been considered by many a symbol for the "Jazz Age," a time of extraordinary wealth and promise, but Fitzgerald's novel is much more than that, presenting the truth behind the twenties and creating an atmosphere which has earned a permanent place in American literature. His novel works on many different levels, giving us unforgettable characters and events on one, as well as referring to the problems of American wealth and spirituality on another. And most importantly, what on earth is that mysterious green light? "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. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness." So now this brings to our attention the first symbol in this book - that mysterious green light. When he first mentions the light, we see Gatsby reaching out for it, almost worshipping it. We find out later that this green light is at the end of Daisy's dock and is a symbol for Gatsby's dream and the hope for the future. Green is the color of promise, hope, and renewal, so it is fitting that Gatsby's dream of a future with Daisy be shown physically in the novel by this green light. However, Gatsby's dream is tarnished by his material possessions, much like America is now with our obsession with wealth. This will soon corrupt him and Gatsby's dream dies because of Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom's carelessness and superficiality. At first we are given the green light as a symbol for the hope and promise of the future. Later, it is consdered the "foul wasteland" of the present. This can be interpreted as the foul, material-driven world that the main characters live in and which helps to destroy Gatsby's dream. Soon Daisy tells Gatsby that he reminds her of an advertisement. This statement shows that Daisy does not like Gatsby for himself but for the superficial illusion he represents. On a larger scale, it is through advertising that the material aspects of the American Dream are revealed. He also advertises eternal youth, wealth, and beauty constantly,which goes along with Gatsby's youthful dream of Daisy.

What was old money and what was new money? New money in "The Great Gatsby" was money that people were making illegally and old money in "The Great Gatsby" was money that people were making the old fashion way. In "The Great Gatsby" Gatsby was making new money. He was selling illegal alcohol and making a lot of money because of it. He was making money the new way. Gatsby was getting money quick and this was making him rich fast. By him getting quick money he was allowed to throw elaborate parties, have a nice house, have nice cars, and have anything he wanted. Money was not a problem for Gatbsy. Whenever he needed money; he got it.
However, Tom was getting money the old fashioned way. Tom was making old money. He was a good citizen and he obeyed the law. He got his money from his job and he didn't get his money by doing anything illegal. All of his money was earned legally. Tom didn't know what Gatsby's job was, but he guessed since Gatsby got rich fast, had elaborate parties, a nice house and a nice car, that he was doing something illegal. Tom thought that Gatsby was a bootlegger and that he was selling illegal alcohol. (http://www.fa-mag.com/component/content/article/687.html?issue=32&magazineID=1&Itemid=73)