Representation of The Lost Generation in The Great Gatsby

 F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, T.S Eliot, Ernest Hemmingway, and John Steinback are some of the most famous authors from “The lost generation of writers”. It was usually said that the lost generation of writers marked the first ripened body in literature to arrive from the U.S. After the Great War stripped the generation of their views and perceive innocence among the people that were at an all-time low, which was taken through the stories that were written.Almost all of their works embark on the same themes; corruption, decadence, democracy and wealth. 

In the book “The Great Gatsby” all of this is shown. The book revolves around “new” and “old” money. Daisy is the prototype of a victim of degeneration which consists throughout the novel. Daisy comes from old money and is not in love with Gatsby but is soft with the lifestyle he can provide for her. Daisy isn’t in love with his character but instead the luxuries and expenses Gatsby offers her due to his puppy love that is the true object of her affection.

The book follows Gatsby’s and Daisy’s “love” story even though at its groundwork is one of greed and selfishness. Gatsby has a deep-rooted fixation with Daisy. In order to get her attention, he would even through parties in order to catch her attention. Deep down Gatsby always had a suspicion what she always wanted him for currency because if he didn’t he wouldn’t be going through the lengths to imprint on her that he reached. 

Gatsby falls in love with Daisy which is deemed as “the American Dream” which soon gets lost and pushed further and further into a corner. The way Gatsby comes across this “new money” is where putridness comes into play. Although Gatsby isn’t the only one who went the illegal route it is conspicuously shown through him. Bootlegging, Speakeasies, and gangsters were prominent factors of the crime showcased throughout the roaring ’20s. Even low paying officers were being bribed to keep it on the low. Another way this is shown is through the 1919 World Series when the players bet against their own team. 

The narrator Nick Carraway sees the act that Gatsby is creating but falls for the dreams and ambition he represents. He continually lies and deceives himself all the while trying to cross as indifferent to the readers. Carraway represents society during the lost generation. You can gather this by how he is aware of what Gatsby is doing and all the crime occurring, and how he goes along and ignores it. Everyone was swallowing a major pill to how they were inheriting the money. 

In conclusion, the lost generation was filled with people who want to live in this frontage and will do the impossible things to achieve that. It is made to believe that this lifestyle was a dream but in reality, it was a hell hole.