(6) Analysis of Novel Using Literary Lenses

Historical/biographical lens

The Great Gatsby was based on the roaring 20’s, the roaring 20’s are notorious for the loosening moral values of the upper and middle classes. After the war, people were ready to embrace their economic wealth and freedom - this occurred in the form of large extravagant parties. Of course Daisy and the others took part of this, “Daisy was popular in Chicago, as you know. They moved with a fast crowd, all of them young and rich and wild”. (Fitzgerald pg. 77) The war creating an economical boom had everyone looking at life in a materialistic way. Jordan Baker cheated to win the golf tournament in an attempt to live the American dream. “There was a row that nearly reached the newspapers - a suggestion that she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-final round" (Fitzgerald 60).

Psychological lens

Psychology in the 1920’s revolved mainly around Sigmund Freud. Some theories he often discussed were the id/ego/superego and family dynamics. 

These will be the two concepts that I will be relating back to the book. The id is often described as the devil or your instincts. It’s the instinctual part of your mind which is the host of pleasure, impulse, or aggression. The superego is known as the angel or reality. This is the host of values, ethics, and morals. Lastly there’s the ego while is your mature and adaptive side. This is the rational part of your mind. Gatsby can be described as the id and tries to use money to distract Daisy instead of thinking logically. Nick, the superego says “I am one of the most honest people i've ever known”, he is the moral character.

Family dynamics often see the father as powerful, son or uncle as esteemed, grandmother or mother as nurturing and stern, while the daughter or youngest child is often seen as someone who is constantly struggling for power. Daisy is portrayed as the younger sibling who is suppressed by her family and society to marry rich. Gatsby grew up learning the world for himself. The person he looked up to was his first boss - a father figure. 

Gender lens 

The Great Gatsby plays into the stereotype that women are weak, pretty, submissive, and dependent while the men are strong, wealthy, insensitive, and dominant. The book plays into the stereotype that women must look pretty and not think for themselves. “I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool”. In a way, The Great Gatsby continually implies that women are nothing but objects to argue over. 

https://youtu.be/ZQHhiZUNM3Q Begin clip at 1:30 to hear Daisy’s “beautiful fool” scene.