Free Great Gatsby Essays: Religious Influences :: Great Gatsby Essays

Religious Influences in The Great Gatsby During the mid-twenties, sometimes referred to as the Progressive Era, political and social changes surfaced in parliamentary law in efforts to progressively improve the nation. However, the 1920s can accurately be described as the decade of selfishness. Society was material oriented and, as a result, there was a decrease in religious practices. This is vividly displayed in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgeralds use of mortal characters as religious influences. There be three significant occurrences in the novel which show the loss of spirituality of the time, beginning with Gatsbys watch over Daisy the night of the hit and run. Gatsby spends the entire night observance for Daisys sign, just as knights risked their lives in pursuit of the Holy Grail. His desire for Daisy to come for his help and live happily ever after with him is misplaced because of the goal he hopes to attain Daisy. Next, there is underlying symbolism presented shortly before Gatsbys death as he struggles with the swimming equipment. When offered assistance from his butler, Gatsby refuses and must bear the cross alone. Finally, Gatsbys death penalty is portrayed as a process of purification, which is of great religious importance. Shot in his chlorinated pool, Gatsby overcomes his shortcomings and is cleansed of his sins. The immoral efforts that were put against American pop culture in the 1920s are best summarized as Wilson stares into the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg of a vast wasteland, You may fool me, but you cant fool God His neighbor must remind him, Thats an advertisement (Parker 33). Another symbolic aspect of the Valley of Ashes is that it is the home of the Wilsons, a place where the average person has some type of religious practices. Myrtles murder is a conspicuous example of the pointlessness of religion in the Twenties society. Fitzgerald suggests that in Twentieth-