Monday, August 6, 2012

Could there be a theme developing?

I was reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald when I reached the part where Nick goes to his first party at Gatsby's house.  At the end of the party, I started to notice that there might be a theme developing.  As the party ended, the book read "Most of the remaining women were now having fights with men said to be their husbands (p. 51)".  Fitzgerald mentions several other instances of fighting, dissension, and even a car accident in the following pages.  These instances seem to point to the major theme of The House of Mirth, that money and material possessions don't guarantee happiness.  Most of the people at the party were either celebrities or wealthy people.  At the party, they were treated to luxurious food, drink, and activities.  However, by the time they all left, most of them were angry and/or ridiculously drunk.  This theme also applies to the fact that Nick did not enjoy the party until he started to drink.  Because Fitzgerald makes no suggestion that the party is beautiful, I think that this will continue to be a theme throughout the novel.

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