Modernism In The Great Gatsby - 1728 Words

Modernism in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows the story of Jay Gatsby in the Jazz Age of the United States. Although this novel tells a fictional tale, it also gives readers a window into the social and economic environment of America in the time period following World War I. For this reason, The Great Gatsby is considered one of the most important examples of Modernism in American literature. The Modernist themes in this novel come not only in the way of the setting and structure that Fitzgerald uses for his story, but also in the specific characteristics that he gives the main characters. While they all form a part of a larger story, each of the main characters in The Great†¦show more content†¦In order to truly appreciate the way that Fitzgerald shows the postwar environment in his novel, it is important to first understand what the Modernist movement entailed. There were many factors that influenced the Modernist movement, such as the rapid changes that Western society had to face during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the tragedy of World War I. During this period of time, people came to realize that they could not be certain that the values and customs society had held in the past would go into the future. â€Å"In an era characterized by industrialization, rapid social change, and advances in science and the social sciences, Modernists felt a growing alienation incompatible with Victorian morality, optimism, and convention† (â€Å"Modernism†). In other words, the Modernist movement pushed the belief that the traditions and values of the past were not compatible with the industrialized world, which promised unlimited opportunities for those who were willing to take them; however, even though many individuals found increadible wealth, they also found that wealth itself could not replace the peace-of-mind that come s from living an honest and moral life. It is in this aspect that The Great Gatsby excels at showing the conflicting views on life in the postwar world; in theShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby Modernism1513 Words   |  7 Pagesof modernism in literature is the attack and or decline of The American Dream. The American Dream is the idea that everyone, men, and women, have an equal opportunity to achieve wealth, success and or happiness through determination, and hard work, in other words, the pursuit of happiness. Two writers that illustrate this theme of modernism are F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, and Ernest Hemingway, author of The Sun Also Rises. From the outside, one may think The Great Gatsby isRead MoreModernism in the Great Gatsby1190 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is Modernism? This term was usually referred to as the literature era of the 1920’s. During the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†, as most would say, was the time of flappers, gangsters, and the beginning of some of the most renowned literature known to the United States. One of the famous books written in this time was The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Included in the Modernism Era were the focus on trends and the extreme effect materialism makes on the society of the 1920’s. WithRead MoreExamples of Modernism in Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby Essay1070 Words   |  5 Pages Great Gatsby Essay The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald shows many examples of modernism. Fitzgerald shows many modernism techniques like loss of control, alienation, corruption of the American Dream, breaking society’s rules and feeling restless. Fitzgerald also shows modernism through the fragmented writing. One example of a modernism technique that Fitzgerald uses is loss of control. The characters often lose control and make bad decisions thatRead MoreReview Of Francis Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby 1299 Words   |  6 Pagesplaywright, screenwriter, copywriter, and author of short stories. He was truly a trailblazer who paved the way for authors to come. Modernism means a style or movement that aims to break with traditional forms. Fitzgerald wrote during the time period of modernism. Modernism partook primarily in Europe from the early to mid twentieth century. Modernism symbolizes the introduction of new ways to express oneself as well as the separation from traditional ways. One major idea that was corroboratedRead MoreA Modernist Examination of the Good Anna and the Great Gatsby1646 Words   |  7 PagesA Modernist Examination of The Good Anna and The Great Gatsby Modernism is a movement characterized by the re-examination of literary styles, structures, content, and even human existence thought to be standard prior to 1900. The movement was all about looking at things in a new light, and trying to break the mold so long held by society as the norm. This movement took place in art, music, architecture, and as I will further discuss in this paper, literature. In this paper, I will discuss the modernistRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby797 Words   |  4 PagesAs World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II were occurring, America was in a time of uncertainty and questioning. Therefore, in following with the feeling of the American people, American writers often followed this theme of confusion in their writing, creating the age of Modernism. During the time period of Modernism, writers often included the themes of uncertainty, disjointedness, and disillusionment in their works. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gat sby, these three themes of uncertaintyRead MoreEssay on Modernism at Its Finest in Literature756 Words   |  4 PagesModernism at Its Finest In the beginning of the twentieth century, literature changed and focused on breaking away from the typical and predicate patterns of normal literature. Poets at this time took full advantage and stretched the idea of the mind’s conscience on how the world, mind, and language interact and contradict. Many authors, such as Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and Twain, used the pain and anguish in first hand experiences to create and depict a new type of literature, modernism. In thisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby And The Harlem Renaissance1594 Words   |  7 PagesRittenhouse CP English 11 Modernism in The Great Gatsby the Harlem Renaissance I hope she ll be a fool — that s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool . . . You see, I think everything s terrible anyhow . . . And I know. I ve been everywhere and seen everything and done everything. (The Great Gatsby, pg. 20) There was a loss of innocence, disillusionment and lack of faith in the American Dream. This became the movement known as Modernism. WWI was the first â€Å"totalRead MoreLost Generation By F. Scott Fitzgerald1396 Words   |  6 Pagesremarkable period, not only economically, socially, culturally and spiritually. American literature grew up to a new level with the advent of such a flow as the Modernism. Modernism Literature reached its peak in America from the 1920s to the 1940s. F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the most prominent representatives of this genre and entered Modernism in the United States above all as the first exponent of his ideas. In the works of Fitzgerald the topic â€Å"Lost generation† is in di sastrous pursuit of wealthRead MoreWomens Independence, Transcendentalism, and Materialism1029 Words   |  4 PagesModernism, especially during the 1920s, has always been a part of growing culture and literature. Independence, individualism, and materialism are all themes of how modernism affected culture and literature standards. Woman Settlers on the Frontier, Self Reliance, and The Great Gatsby are all literary examples of the development of a modern society. One of the major themes of modernism seen in culture and literature is the breaking of tradition as a self-dependent individual. Women were changing