F Scott Fitzgerald's use of settings in the novel, 'The Great Gatsby, amplifies the patterns within the story line that explain the lifestyle choices during the time period of the 1920's. The main parties within the book, the first being the one in New York and the second the garden party at Gatsby's connect to how the upper and middle class socialites would use every opportunity to celebrate a meaningless event. Juxtaposing two scenes in a narrative allows them to be easily compared and contrasted.
The first party within the novel is in New York in the apartment that Myrtle and Tom use as a place to the plant their affair. With Nick visiting the city that never sleeps with Tom it becomes almost awkward with Nick being the relative of Daisy and would most likely stay true to family rather than a college friend. As they travelled across the "valley of ashes" to the city, Tom suddenly pulls Nick from their train to meet his mistress, Myrtle. She is the wife of servile garage-owner George Wilson. Myrtle catches the next train with them Tom insist that Nick accompany them to their city apartment. As the gathering begins it is obvious that the relationship between Tom and Myrtle is more legitimate than Daisy believes it to be. With this being the second time Nick is drunk the event continues to be very dramatic with arguments flaring constantly and the alcohol being the purpose of the arguments, it becomes apparent that Myrtle needs Tom more than he necessarily needs her, although Catherine, Myrtles sister, claims that they are only staying with their partners for reasons they cant control. Myrtle starts chanting Daisy's name, and Tom brutally breaks her nose: the sound of wailing accompanies Nick as he leaves.
The second party at Gatsbys takes place in chapter three. Before the occasion Nick describes the lavish parties that nightly transform Gatsby's garden. Upon attending his first Gatsby social gathering, Nick hears many extravagant and contradictory rumours from the guests. Nick confesses to the man to who he is called to meet that he has never met their host, the man reveals himself to be Gatsby. The garden itself resembles that of an amusement park with the swarms of celebrities and those who crave attention attending these festivities on a weekly basis. The constant gossiping between the guests, spreading rumours of the host tends to be the main topic for conversation rather than discussing the latest news. With Gatsby being the focus of everyones attention he is a questionable character with most of the guests perceiving him wrongly, Nick is possibly the only individual that can see Gatsby and Tom for who they really are despite the fact that they are both involved with Daisy they are completely different in personality.
The impromptu party that is thrown by Tom Buchanan and his mistress, Myrtle Wilson, followed immediately by Jay Gatsby's party at his house, call for the attention of the reader because of the implications of these neighboring scenes. The result of analyzing the two scenes is that the reader can identify the qualities and authority of each of the male characters. By paying specific detail to the dcor of the parties, the respect that each character commands from people at their parties, the guests who arrive at the parties, and the overall purpose of hosting the party, it is obvious that Tom and Gatsby are polar opposites.
To conclude the two parties Tom and Myrtle's party is juxtaposed with Gatsby's in order to show that their characters are opposites as well as the degree to which they differ. Everything about Tom's party indicates that he is extremely obnoxious and from throwing the party he will never achieve happiness. Gatsby, on the other hand is friendly and content, he throws his parties to please others not necessarily himself.
Bibliography
The Great Gatsby - F. Scot Fitz Gerald
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