Gatsby's Indiscreet Voice: a Deeper Analysis

From the very first pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick Carraway, introduces readers to a mysterious and enigmatic character—Jay Gatsby. Throughout the narrative, Gatsby's voice is often described as "full of money." This phrase, repeated a few times in the text, holds significant weight and plays a crucial role in understanding the character's motivations and the larger themes of the novel. In this essay, we will explore the implications of Gatsby's voice and how it reflects his obsession with wealth, his desire for social acceptance, and his ultimate downfall.

Topic Sentence: Gatsby's voice, described as "full of money," serves as a reflection of his obsession with wealth and material possessions.

Gatsby's relentless pursuit of wealth is evident throughout the novel, and his voice becomes a symbol of this obsession. Fitzgerald uses the phrase "full of money" to emphasize Gatsby's desire to be seen as wealthy and successful in order to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. For example, on page 128, Nick describes Gatsby's voice as "a strange mixture of confidence and hope" that "revealed little about him," suggesting that his voice is merely a facade—a tool he uses to project an image of affluence. This obsession with wealth ultimately leads Gatsby to engage in illicit activities and a life of deception, as he believes that acquiring wealth is the key to winning Daisy's heart.

Furthermore, Gatsby's voice also reflects his desire for social acceptance and validation. In the 1920s, the era in which the novel is set, wealth and social status were often interconnected. Gatsby, coming from a humble background, understands this and uses his voice as a means to gain acceptance from the elite class. On page 45, Nick remarks, "His [Gatsby's] speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed." This description highlights Gatsby's attempts to adopt a voice that aligns with the upper-class society he aspires to be a part of. By sounding refined and confident, Gatsby hopes to erase his past and create a new identity for himself.

Topic Sentence: Gatsby's voice, with its association with money, also represents the hollowness and emptiness of the Jazz Age.

The Jazz Age, characterized by its excesses and superficiality, is vividly portrayed in The Great Gatsby. Gatsby's voice, described as "full of money," embodies the hollowness and emptiness of this era. On page 102, Nick narrates, "There was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life... it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again." Here, Nick acknowledges the allure of Gatsby's voice but also hints at its lack of substance. Gatsby's voice, like the promises of the Jazz Age, is seductive and enchanting, but ultimately empty. It is a symbol of the materialistic and shallow values that dominated society during this time.

Moreover, Gatsby's voice can be seen as a reflection of the novel's larger critique of the American Dream. The American Dream, often associated with the pursuit of wealth and success, is a central theme in The Great Gatsby. Gatsby's voice, described as "full of money," represents the corruption and disillusionment inherent in the pursuit of this dream. On page 120, Nick reflects, "He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it." This passage highlights the irony of Gatsby's pursuit of wealth—despite all his material possessions, his dream of winning Daisy's love remains unattainable. Gatsby's voice, then, becomes a metaphor for the emptiness and disillusionment that accompanies the relentless pursuit of wealth.

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald skillfully uses Gatsby's voice, described as "full of money," to convey deeper themes and insights into the character and the society in which he exists. Gatsby's voice represents his obsession with wealth, his desire for social acceptance, and the hollowness of the Jazz Age. It serves as a reflection of the corruption and disillusionment inherent in the pursuit of the American Dream. Through this analysis, we gain a deeper understanding of Gatsby's character and the larger critique of society that Fitzgerald presents. The repeated phrase, "her voice is full of money," takes on a multi-dimensional meaning, leaving readers with a profound reflection on the destructive power of materialism and the fragility of human aspirations.

Bibliography:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.