Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context

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Chapter Four - Love, Historical Context and Historicism

For specification A, you are specifically interested in the implication of texts in history and how the ideology of love is presented in this text. Here are some ideas relevant to that reading:

Significance of the guest list

While the list of guests suggests that Gatsby’s parties were loved by all of the most fashionable and wealthy people in town, the reality is that they were all just using Gatsby for his ‘hospitality’.
Again, Fitzgerald is highlighting how hollow and superficial the ‘roaring twenties’ really were. Does love really exist in this world?

Significance of Gatsby's car

The status of Gatsby’s car shows how important motoring had become in this era and how cars signified class and position in society.

Gatsby ticking boxes

Gatsby believes that he will be more accepted into society if he ticks certain boxes, including things such as an Oxford University degree and a collection of war medals.
He seems to believe he is more likely to be loved then.

Possibility of re-invention

The acquisition of money and worldly good means that in this period, it was possible to re-invent oneself. In re-invention one might then find love.

Police corruption

The fact that Gatsby is allowed to go free after the speeding offence suggest corruption in society at this point. The policeman is also influenced by the way Gatsby speaks.

Chapter Four - Love, Historical Context and Historicism

For specification A, you are specifically interested in the implication of texts in history and how the ideology of love is presented in this text. Here are some ideas relevant to that reading:

Significance of Meyer Wolfsheim

The character of Meyer Wolfsheim suggests that anything might be fixed with the right connections and money. This seems to have an implication that even love may be fixed in the same way.

Dark, criminal underworld

There is clearly a darker and criminal underworld in which Gatsby inhabits. So despite the outward glamour, there is a darker underbelly to society in the novel.
In the end, Daisy is repelled by this, and it is why she cannot love him.

Tom and Gatsby's collision

Tom and Gatsby collide at this point, representing ‘old money’ and ‘new money’. They are competing for the love of one woman.

Significance of Daisy to Gatsby

Clearly, Daisy is a motivating force in Gatsby’s life.
He is wishing to show that he can equal ‘old money’ and during this phase of history, many people would have wanted to do this.
He was denied this originally but wants to now have another go. Gatsby has used criminality and the underworld to achieve this position.

Role of Jordan and Nick

Jordan and Nick find themselves embroiled in the rekindling of Gatsby’s love affair with Daisy.
However, like many others of this era, they were merely pawns for people with more money, will and status.