F. Scott Fitzgerald/ Great GatsbyEssay Preview: F. Scott Fitzgerald/ Great GatsbyReport this essayThe 1920s, sometimes referred to as the “Jazz Age” or the “Roaring Twenties,” was known as a time of social change in rural America. In many aspects of life, women and men were changing their past accepted lifestyles and quickly adopting lavish lifestyles. Emerged during the twentieth century, one of the most notable writers of his time, F. Scott Fitzgerald, developed one of the greatest novels written, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald used his novels to reveal his feelings and opinions on times in the US. He was known as a writer from the “Lost Generation” because his negative beliefs were known to be different from the rest of Americans beliefs. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald offers a critical idolization of wealthy Americans but shows the portrayal of these Americans unrestrained materialism and lack of morality.
In Fitzgeralds novel, he writes about the relationships that go on and with these relationships lack of loyalty, self indulgence, violence, and disregard to morals are brought with them. The relationships of the main characters Daisy and Tom Buchanan is one of infidelity and lies. This loveless relationship consists of Tom cheating on Daisy with many women, one whose name is Myrtle, and Daisy cheating on Tom with Jay Gatsby. Tom is an aggressive man who, one day, shows his violence toward Myrtle when she taunts Tom with Daisys name. Even though, Daisy is aware of Toms affairs, Daisy gives him a gold pen to show off to the girls at parties. Jay Gatsby is another main character, who is determined to win the love back from Daisy. In doing so, Gatsby makes friends with his new neighbor Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, in order to get closer to Daisy. Nick Carraway is a cousin of Daisys; which Gatsby is seen as a personal way to forward his pursue for Daisy. Though, Nick realizes his relationship with him is purely a way to benefit Gatsby, he remains friends with him. While Nick takes a back seat to the more complicated relationships he does get acquainted with a pompous woman, Jordan Baker, also known as “the balancing girl.” She and Nick become close but later, Nick finds out that Jordan has left him to get engaged with a wealthier man. Fitzgerald gives each relationship its own flaws and wrong doings in order to depict the changing of the American life.
This novel highlights the negative values, whether its dishonesty, immorality, illegal or unethical activities, within each character. Tom for instance has numerous affairs. Jordan cheated in a golf tournament. Gatsby was involved in illegal matters, such as gambling and over-the-counter selling of alcohol. Gatsby also got caught up in a fight he and Tom had over Daisy and Gatsby told Tom that Daisy never loved him. A major unethical value that Daisy possessed was when everyone was going back to Long Island, after the disputation between Tom and Gatsby, and when Daisy saw Myrtle in the road, swerved in the other lane, then swerved back to hit Myrtle. Daisy did not even stop the car to check what she had done, she continued on to leave Myrtle dead in the road. Trying to cope with Myrtles death, her husband, Wilson tracked down the owner of the car. He found Gatsby at home and thats when he shot Gatsby dead and then took his own life. Another unethical value
Lorenzo: All of the characters in “Boys and Girls Don’t Cry” seem to suffer from such mental or emotional problems that, as a result of their characters and those of them who commit these same behaviors, even if the relationship between them is very close, it becomes emotionally unstable. What was the emotional value of this relationship?
Pieter de la Cruz: The moral values involved in this relationship are a little different than in any other relationship, as those values include, rather than only those of one person, those around the community who come from different social backgrounds, their actions being different, and the fact that they live together in a community or an institution that makes it hard for each other to work towards being friends.
Lorenz: There was no one who said to the children to shut up or sit back and get up, but it was certainly more of a collective sense of obligation to the “Sons and Queens” family because, just as there was a lot more responsibility, there was a sense that it was important to have a family with them.
Pieter de la Cruz: And the kids went on to be “Boys and Girls Don’t Cry.” I’ve heard many people say: “We’re gonna cry because we love them and want to watch their movies every day—but not this time.” In any given day, it would have been a good idea to stop and think about it. It’s important when you are doing parenting and parenting, to be realistic about it, to remember what you’re doing, to have one’s time cut to a minimum, and in such a way that you can think about whether you’re happy or sad.
Lorenz: Is there anything you can say about the character of Jane Lestrade that you think is worth saying?
Pieter de la Cruz: She was a beautiful character in the movie but she was a very very manipulative character. In one scene, Jane was trying to get the “Sons and Queens” character in a movie and some sort of action happens, she ends up beating her boyfriend into doing something horrible. And I think that she also has a very strong memory for what it’s like being a girl, being involved in violence, that would be very dangerous.
Lorenz: In “Pieter de la Cruz Goes to War”, Jane Lestrade is attacked by a group of teenagers, and she tries to tell the boy, but only to be interrupted by an angry, angry, upset Jane Lestrade who just wanted to get down and kill herself, and now is fighting the bullies?
Pieter de la Cruz: They attacked her and she tried to kill herself because he had attacked her. But Jane Lestrade couldn’t stop the bullies from attacking her so she could get out of the way when they were coming. As Jane said, she had her hands up when they attacked her. She was able to move out of the way a few times and was able to save her sister who was also a survivor of attacks on some children by the police, who saw Jane and took care until she was able to take care of more people.
Lorenz: Is there anything of value or concern you’ve expressed to the character of Jane Lestrade which you feel you are uniquely qualified to present here? Is this portrayal a complete lie for the average viewer, and do you feel it is appropriate for a parent to present a portrayal of a “heroes” who suffered from similar problems?
Pieter de la Cruz: I’m not necessarily referring to those who suffered from similar challenges with others, but do I