Poverty in the Great Gatsby Literature & Language Essay (Essay Sample)

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March 4, 2019
Poverty in The Great Gatsby
The literature of the 1920s cannot be approached as strict prose. Fictional works from this period indicate multiple attempts at synchronizing creative writing with materialism. Standing out in this portrayal of the society in literature was Scott Fitzgerald’s representation of social classes in “The Great Gatsby”. Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” includes insights into social stratification as shown by interactions among characters. Irrespective of whether Fitzgerald’s portrayal of characters is stereotypical or not, The Great Gatsby examines poverty through a Marxist lens where the poor are constantly immersed in class struggles.
The key to understanding The Great Gatsby is that the novel confronts poverty through situating characters in different social circles where class determines an individual’s worth. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of characters in different settings conveys the idea that the value of the poor people changes depending on their use to society. As Jay Gatsby comes to find out, he is treated with respect and as an equal to the elites during his time as a soldier. As Fitzgerald notes, the high social class welcomes Gatsby and his fellow soldiers into their midst because of their uniform (139).