Marxist Reading of the Great Term Paper

Total Length: 1740 words ( 6 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 6

In the car Nick sees him look sideways as though lying and thinks "And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn't something a little sinister about him, after all" (65, Chapter 4). Nick's middle class ideology leads him to scorn those who would strive to get ahead. It is the traditional view of the underclass toward upstarts from within. In the end, he loses "love" (Jordan). The text does not validate his character as an ideal.

The relationship of Tom and Gatsby clearly reinforces the class system. Tom articulates a power-oriented racist vision, saying "It's up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things" (13, Chapter 1). This Nordic racism is symbolic of a biased class consciousness out of which Tom operates.
He wants to retain his class power. It creates hatred for those outside his social status. Applied to Gatsby, Tom's view is contemptuous despite Gatsby's whiteness and wealth. It is significant that Gatsby lives in West Egg, which is separated by a social class chasm from East Egg where the inherited rich live. Tom is contemptuous of Gatsby's parties. Daisy displays the same view: "But the rest offended her -- and inarguably, because it wasn't a gesture but an emotion" (107, Chapter 6). In other words, Tom and Daisy are part of.....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Marxist Reading Of The Great" (2010, April 12) Retrieved May 18, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/marxist-reading-great-1674

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Marxist Reading Of The Great" 12 April 2010. Web.18 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/marxist-reading-great-1674>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Marxist Reading Of The Great", 12 April 2010, Accessed.18 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/marxist-reading-great-1674