The Impact of Materialism on the Relationship between Gatsby and Daisy in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby with Reference to His Short Stories Eleanor Merry 11th Grade

As an astute and somewhat satirical depiction of 1920’s America in her ‘golden years’, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby arguably seeks to both remonstrant and castigate the newfound mutation of the American Dream that had begun to manifest itself into an elitist society. Fitzgerald’s attempted exposition of these destructive materialistic values in his literary opposition exemplifies this corrupt and ‘careless’ society – most poignantly – through its effect upon romance and true love throughout the novella, particularly between Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan.

Fitzgerald’s utilization of opulent imagery to elucidate her character serves to further accentuate Daisy’s role as an archetype of wealth and status of the Jazz Age. The 1920s served as women’s chance to liberate themselves after taking on traditionally masculine in the years of 1917 and 1918 of the Great War. This birth of the Flapperdom at the time of Fitzgerald’s writing of the novella obviously influenced his portrayal of his female characters. Whilst Daisy isn’t particularly reminiscent of the roaring twenties’ flapper, she does occasionally demonstrate characteristics typical of this ‘new woman’ – such as her participation of adultery as sexual liberation. Daisy is very...