Week 2- The Great Gatsby

Classics, in my opinion are works of art that contain a truth and can be read or enjoyed repeatedly (maybe endlessly).  I think that the Great Gatsby qualifies as a classic because it accomplishes two things; first it is a peek into the mannerisms of a period of time in history and second it is brief and deep enough to encompass many levels of examination/discovery. 

Comedy of manners have proven to be popular with such famous examples coming from Shakespeare himself.  So if done right, there is obviously an audience for this with the Great Gatsby.  With such a wide readership spanning from a wealthy to poor, there will be different and multiple views on the work.  The wealthy don’t acknowledge Gatsby’s problems (some might even sympathize with him).    The average or lower class reader can see and identify Gatsby’s problems and find it easier to pass judgment on him.

For readers after the time of publication the work provides an interesting window into the life of the Jazz Age.  This plays interest to not only historians, but also the general curiosity inherent and tales of the past.  As a book is the most engaging way to walk in someone else’s shoes, it really is a way of time travelling.  The features of the Jazz Age (parties, excess of money and drinking, women socializing, short hair, and the power women suddenly have in relationships) are now looked at with a bit of humor; for these things are not as “scandalous” or in vogue as they might have been.

The brevity of the Great Gatsby is also a contributing factor to it status as a classic.  Because it is so short, it is accessible and less intimidating to a wider audience then compared to say a massive tome like Moby Dick.  This also leads to Fitzgerald’s skill as a writer for we are led to believe that this work will not be as complex and then are surprised by its depth.  Much like classic children’s books (Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte’s Web, Harold and the Purple Crayon) there is more being said than meets the eye.   Gatsby is a very ambiguous character and it is challenging to label him as either “good” or “bad”.  Something mysterious like this is just one reason to lead people to read the novel and (perhaps more importantly) pass it on to someone else for their own opinion.