How the Symbolism Used in Scoot Fitzgerald “The Great Gatsby” Is Related to the Jazz Age, Essay Example

The famous novel “The Great Gatsby” transports us to a remarkable era where music plays an important role in the development of a culture. Music has always enriched our lives by creating a connection between a melody and experience lived. We can always count on the special song that reminds us of a special occasion no matter how many years have passed.

The presence of the symbolism in the work is considerable.  Yet its power and force is not felt in merely the relationship between the jazz age.  Rather, Fitzgerald transforms its use against the underlying theme of the story.  The symbolism found in “The Great Gatsby” is linked to the presence and romanticism of the jazz age, and ultimately the decline of American values.

Definition of the Jazz Era

The jazz era is seen primarily within the 1920s and 1930s, according to Wintz.  The jazz era can be seen against the development of the Harlem Renaissance, which captured the influx of African-American music, art, and literature in America.  This is perhaps the most recognizable term associated with this period, as Gatsby actually coined the term “the jazz age,” as we will discuss later.

The Harlem Renaissance is directly seen against the grain of the jazz era, at any rate.  In Harlem the birth of popular jazz musicians, such as Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and Willie Smith (“The Lion”), burst on the scene.  The coming together of jazz, spirituals, and blues at the time produced a distinctive sound in Harlem.  It would soon take the country by storm.

The Harlem Renaissance and this general period is seen with regards to Prohibition.  The banning of alcohol in the United States only served to add to the rich scene within culture.  Popular jazz musicians could be seen within elite clubs, where the use of alcohol would be seen.  The Harlem Renaissance and this period within the 1920s and 1930s illuminated not only jazz music and other African-American arts, but the culture as well.

Reference to the Jazz Era in “The Great Gatsby”

Disregarding symbolism at the moment, “The Great Gatsby” can definitively be seen within the period of the jazz era.  However it should be noted once more that Fitzgerald has termed the phrase “the jazz age” in which we are discussing.  This coinage within the text of course directly references the jazz age or era.  Fitzgerald not only defines the term in which is being addressed, but places the context of the story completely within this age.

Although Fitzgerald terms the phrase “the jazz age” in “The Great Gatsby,” the jazz age and/or era is certainly present in the setting of the work.  We find “The Great Gatsby” occurring within just a few months in the summer of 1922.  Of course this period is well within the aforementioned rise of jazz culture in the 1920s and 1930s.  This is exactly where the rise of jazz culture can be seen, in the Roaring Twenties and before the Great Depression.

The location of the story is also definitive of this point in American culture, additionally to that of the time.  The story takes place within the state of New York, specifically within Long Island.  While the story is not within actual Harlem, for instance, it can be reasonably linked to the rise in culture in America, as very close to the height of this movement within the United States.  Clearly Fitzgerald wanted to emphasize the jazz culture, not only in the period, but with regards to location.

Symbolism of the Jazz Era in “The Great Gatsby”

The symbolism used in “The Great Gatsby” is directly linked towards that of the jazz era or age.  As we will later examine, we will touch upon the positive and negative references found in the symbolism towards the jazz age.  Fitzgerald makes great use of symbolism to refer to the background in that of the jazz age, most notably found in themes of materialism, greed, and the pursuit of pleasure.

The presence of materialism is quite developed in “The Great Gatsby.”  Of course materialism was also found in the jazz era, with regards to the prominence of elaborate parties and the consumption of alcohol.  Of course, this dynamic intertwines the topics of materialism, greed, and the pursuit of pleasure in the historic jazz age, to which we will identify in that of “The Great Gatsby.”

One developed representation of materialism is found is Daisy, as truly one of many characters in the work that symbolizes materialism in the jazz age.  Daisy’s reaction to the Gatsby mansion is one example of this dynamic.  We can also see this dynamic in her love of shirts, which Fitzgerald satirizes with much force: “Suddenly with a strained sound Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily. ‘They’re such beautiful shirts,’ she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. ‘It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such—such beautiful shirts before’” (Fitzgerald 98).  Truly Daisy is infected with this materialism developed in the jazz age.

The rise of materialism in the work can be directly symbolic of materialism.  The extravagant parties and clothes exhibited in the Roaring Twenties, or the jazz age, is directly relevant to the “The Great Gatsby.”  Truly the characters make use of these symbols.

The materialism of Daisy is matched by the greed evident in Gatsby.  Truly the social statuses are of importance in their relationship.  To this end, Gatsby resorts to crime in order to have enough money to impress Daisy, in her materialism, thus resorting to another symbol of the jazz age, in that of greed.

In “The Great Gatsby” greed, materialism, and the pursuit of pleasure become entangled.  Fitzgerald paints a picture of a society, in which the rich are ostentatious, materialistic, and lavishly involved in the pursuit of pleasure.  For instance, Gatsby’s weekly parties relate the materialism of Daisy who is the true target, the product of the greed of Gatsby, and the pursuit of pleasure in the community.  Fitzgerald relates a society filled in the pursuit of pleasure, where the newly rich are quite materialistic and eager to party lavishly.

These developments and symbolisms were quite in line with the Roaring Twenties and the jazz age.  In many parts of society we see these essences of greed, materialism, and the pursuit of pleasure.  It is quite evident with regards to what is found in the history of the United States.

Fitzgerald criticizes culture in this era quite directly through these symbolisms.  He along with others, such as Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein, aim directly at what is known as the “Lost Generation,” who were cynical and disillusioned about the world.  This generation is found in the Roaring Twenties, in American history and certainly within the characters and society created by Fitzgerald in the work.

Social criticism is echoed throughout Fitzgerald in the symbolism of “The Great Gatsby.”  Fitzgerald produces a society that is out of touch with previous generations, which certainly match that of the Lost Generation in American history of the jazz age.  Fitzgerald draws parallels to the greed, materialism, and the pursuit of pleasure as was evident in the Roaring Twenties, echoed by even more writers, such as Sinclair Lewis, Sherwood Anderson, Edith Wharton, and H.L. Mencken.

Overall, Fitzgerald’s characters and society are symbolically and directly linked to the jazz age in American history.  His society and characters carry the same qualities as found in the Lost Generation of the Roaring Twenties.  Most notably found in the use of “The Great Gatsby” in terms of greed, materialism, and the pursuit of pleasure, Fitzgerald accurately links the work to the critique of society in the jazz age of the 1920s and 1930s.

Romanticism and the Decline of Values

The use of these symbolic elements that draw parallels to the jazz age are utilized by Fitzgerald to romanticize and relate the decline of values.  The romanticism of the values are of course romanticized, as Fitzgerald is criticizing these newfound values of the generation.  Ultimately Fitzgerald uses these values to relate the decline thereof, as these symbolisms to the jazz age are references made in criticism.

Romanticism

“The Great Gatsby” features the aforementioned values in order to romanticize the standards and culture within the work.  Truly the characters and overall society are engrossed in materialism, greed, and the pursuit of pleasure.  As a result, these characterizations are idealized in order to lead to the next point of discussion, as they ultimately reveal the lessened state of values.

These elements come together in a society where they are in fashion.  Society sees these values in an ideal manner:

Real-life personalities were highly esteemed for their alleged bootlegging under Prohibition… At the onset of Prohibition, a bootlegging industry flourished from the start, and drinking became more in vogue than ever. Upper-class citizens gained prestige by offering outlawed alcohol to their house guests and by taking friends to popular speakeasies.

Moss 151

This is exactly the point of reference Fitzgerald has in “The Great Gatsby.”  By making use of these symbols as in the legacy of the Prohibition period, Fitzgerald relates the romanticism of such standards.

Thus the glamor of the period is a mere fantasy.  Fitzgerald’s use of these symbols is definitely related to those present in the jazz age.  Any heightened treatment is thereby illusion, found in the romanticized and idealized form in “The Great Gatsby” and in American history, in the degraded values of society.

Decline of Values

As a result, we now clearly see the decline of values that is characterized by Fitzgerald.  Society is demonstrated in the explicit decline of values, stemming from materialism, greed, and the pursuit of pleasure.  The decline of values by Fitzgerald is twofold: in the characters and society of “The Great Gatsby,” and in the society of the jazz age in American history.

The result of these romanticized values and dreams is reality.  Fitzgerald makes it clear in the funeral of Gatsby, who know has no friends, as differentiated by his popular parties: “The minister glanced several times at his watch so I took him aside and asked him to wait half an hour. But it wasn’t any use. Nobody came” (Fitzgerald 182).  At the end is disillusionment in their dreams: “Finally… comes disillusionment: the inner life of dreams loses its power, and they find themselves alone in the emptiness of a purely material universe” (Way 171).  The characters find no meaning in their materialistic ways, resulting in their demise.

Thus the characters meet reality.  From their disillusioned dreams and aspirations, they were only living in the constraints of materialism, greed, and the pursuit of pleasure.  The characters realize that they are truly alone in the world, as a result of their abandonment of standards held by previous generations.  In history and in “The Great Gatsby,” we see the demise of the Lost Generation.

Conclusion

From the time of the jazz age, and certainly in respect to the Roaring Twenties and the Harlem Renaissance, we see the setting of “The Great Gatsby.”  Close to the center of this movement, the story is set in New York, where we see the Lost Generation.  Truly this generation shares many of the standards of that in American history, to which Fitzgerald is speaking.

Apart from the direct references to the jazz age, we see the elements of materialism, greed, and the pursuit of pleasure.  Fitzgerald makes use of these symbols which are seen in American history in this time period.  The presence of these symbols helps to recreate some of the dynamics of the jazz age, for better or for worse.

Fitzgerald takes the opportunity to demonstrate the negative values of the Lost Generation.  Through their idealized and romanticized standards, they realize their mistakes when it is only too late, as in the case of Gatsby.  Fitzgerald paints a culture that shares the same downfalls as the original Lost Generation.

References

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1925.

Moss, Joyce and George Wilson. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. “The Great Gatsby.” Vol. 3 of Literature and Its Times. 5 vols. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale, 1997.

Way, Brian. F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Art of Social Fiction.  New York: St. Martin’s, 1980.

Wintz, Cary D. Black Culture and the Harlem Renaissance. Houston: Rice University Press, 1988.