Juxtaposition in The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a real classic, diving deep into the glitzy yet morally messed-up Jazz Age in America. One thing that really stands out in this novel is how Fitzgerald uses juxtaposition. You know, placing two totally different things next to each other to show their differences. Let's take a look at how this technique plays out with themes like wealth and corruption, illusion versus reality, and the American Dream.

The Glamour and Decay

Fitzgerald does an awesome job of using juxtaposition to show the difference between the rich folks' fancy lifestyle and their lack of morals underneath all that glitter. You've got people like Jay Gatsby and the Buchanans living it up in huge mansions, throwing big parties, and just flashing their money around. Gatsby’s place is described as an imitation of some grand French palace (Fitzgerald 5), while Daisy's got this silver shine above all the struggles of the poor (Fitzgerald 20).

Then there's George Wilson, working in his run-down garage in this "valley of ashes"—basically a dump full of poverty and sadness. The garage is a gloomy spot with nothing but ash and darkness (Fitzgerald 23). This extreme contrast shows how wealth can mess people up morally.

Social Inequality On Display

When you think about Gatsby's wild parties compared to the tough life in the valley of ashes, it's hard not to notice the social inequality theme. The rich are having a blast while the poor are stuck in a tough spot with no way out. Does that sound fair or right? Not really.

Illusion vs. Reality

This novel also plays around with what's real and what's just for show. Throughout the book, characters put on masks to hide who they really are. Take Gatsby for instance—he looks like he's got it all together: money, success, everything you could want. But as it turns out, he made his fortune through shady means and throws those big parties just to win back Daisy Buchanan.

The reality? Gatsby's life's pretty empty despite all his riches. His mansion might be huge and bright under the moonlight (Fitzgerald 85), but it's all hollow inside. This shows how chasing money can sometimes leave you feeling lonely without any real connections.

The Facade of Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan's another great example of illusion versus reality. He acts all strong and confident but turns out to be abusive towards Daisy and cheats on her with Myrtle Wilson. By contrasting Tom's outside appearance with who he really is inside, Fitzgerald exposes that facade he keeps up to stay on top socially.

The Corrupted American Dream

Lastly, we’ve gotta talk about the American Dream—and how it's been twisted by greed. There's what people think it should be—Gatsby chasing wealth to win Daisy back—and then there's what it actually is for people like George Wilson or Myrtle Wilson.

Gatsby’s mansion with its marble pool might look like he's living that dream (Fitzgerald 9). But George? He's stuck despite working hard 'cause he's trapped in poverty over at the valley of ashes. And Myrtle tries climbing up by hooking up with Tom Buchanan but that's not true happiness either.

This comparison shows how maybe folks have lost sight of what really matters when they're too focused on getting more stuff rather than forming genuine human connections along their journey toward happiness!

Wrapping It Up

So there you have it! In The Great Gatsby juxtaposition shines light on some heavy themes such as wealth & corruption; illusions versus realities; plus how much materialism has tainted America's once-noble dream! By putting these different elements side-by-side—rich vs poor lifestyles; truths behind facades—we see contradictions within society itself during this era! Thanks largely due attention given through employing this technique effectively throughout story arc culminating everything together seamlessly revealing deeper truths beneath surface glamour portrayed vividly across pages penned down masterfully by none other than Fitzgerald himself!

References

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.
• Lathbury, Roger. "The Disillusionment Of F.Scott Fitzgerald." Northern Virginia Review, vol. 15, no. 1., 2001.
• Tredell Nicolas., ed., The Great Gatsby: Critical Insights., Salem Press., 2010.
• Berman Ronald., The Great Gatsby and Modern Times., University of Illinois Press.,1994.