Having read chapters 1-3 in Great Gatsby during class this past week, it first looked like a classic story with rich people and their extravagant parties. However, after reading, I think Fitzgerald tries to make it seem like even with all their money and status, nothing is how it seems. 
    For example, in chapter 1 Nick visits Toms house and uses strong imagery to describe his home in a luxurious way. Tom and Daisy appear to have the "perfect" marriage with their wealth, status, and security. But as you read, you realize their relationship is shallow. Daisy says, “I’ve had a very bad time, Nick, and I’m pretty cynical about everything.”(pg.20) and it's obvious they are not as happy as they say they are / come off as.
    In chapter two, we find that Tom is having an affair with a woman named Myrtle, whom Tom does not respect. Myrtle is arrogant and is intent on being part of "Tom's reality" of wealth and status, consistently talking about materialistic things. Tom ends up hitting Myrtle when she brings up Daisy which displays the themes of violence, chaos, pride, and the "fakeness" that the characters have in the novel.  
    Finally, chapter 3 shows how money and status still is an illusion, for example, Gatsby's party.
At the party, many people did not even know who Gatsby was, or who he looked like. There are many rumors about him, like how he "killed a man", yet despite this, it's ignored because Gatsby's party symbolizes power, luxury, and status, which is more important in their eyes. By the end of the night, there's a terrible car crash, people arguing, etc. 
Overall, these chapters reveal how shallow and fake the rich's reality is, versus how they appear to "have it all" in front of the lower classes.

Comments

  1. JustinOctober 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM

    I really like how you focus on Fotgerald’s critiques of being rich. He doesn’t just explicitly say or show the message you convey, but it’s implied. I also really like how you formatted each paragraph by chapter. It makes it easier for the reader.

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