First off let me explain what the term the “Lost Generation” means. It refers to the loss of innocence in society after WWII. The Great War changed everyone’s outlook. The Lost Generation is expressed through the characters Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchahan, and Tom Buchahan.
In chapter one the first sign of the lost generation is shown through Tom and Daisy, Nick’s cousin and her husband. They are the most snobbishly wealthy people Nick knows. When they are first introduced in the book Nick states, “They had spent a year in France for no particular reason, and drifted here and there unrest fully wherever people played polo and were rich together.” Tom and Daisy are major representations of the lost generation. They do things randomly because they have no purpose or worries. They do whatever and go wherever because no one expects anything for them. When Tom and Nick see each other for the first time in awhile Nick thought, “Two shinning arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face.” Nick realizes that Tom has changed very much since collage. Before, Tom was more of a stuck of type of rich. Nick now sees that Tom’s beliefs have become more solid. Tom sees himself as the superior one over his social circle and other races. While Nick is at dinner with Tom and Daisy Tom blurts out, “civilization’s going to pieces; the idea is if we don’t look the white race will be utterly submerged.” “Tom is getting very profound, Daisy said with an expression of unthoughtful sadness. He reads deep books with long words in them.” In Tom’s eyes the white race is the most important thing to be a part of.
The Essay on The Great Gatsby Tom And Daisy
The Great Gatsby is written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Nick Carraway is a neutral character and narrates this novel. He witnesses most of the interactions between the characters, yet states only what happens and not just his opinion. Nick moves from the mid-west to Long Island. Jay Gatsby lives next door to Nick in the East Egg. He lives in a mansion, which he bought with the money he made by being ...
In chapter two Tom takes Nick to meet Myrtle, his lover. He takes him to the valley of ash where her home is. They all then go Into New York, to an apartment bought by Tom for Myrtle. Myrtle invites her sister and some friends over and they all drink. By the end of the night Tom and she get into a fight and he hit her in the nose and breaks it. This chapter shows what Tom is really like and how he acts toward people and about his money. Tom represents the lost generation in this chapter Tom. He does not care so much about the people he should and the people he should not want to hurt. All her cares about himself, and his needs. He does not care that he is hurting Daisy when all he has to do is leave her but he cares too much about what others will think of him. Even though everyone knows divorce is just not the thing that people did.
Chapter three focuses on reality and real life but, it also shows the lost generation. The lost generation in chapter three is shown through all the guest that attend Gatsby’s parties. The ones that are actually invited are all very rich and powerful. They all have no have not a thing to worry about but getting drunk. The ones that are not invited and show up are there just for the party, to get drunk and eat but, both not having a care in the world. Most of them have not even met scene or smoke to Gatsby. They all have this picture of him in their head because all of the things that they have herd. When they really don’t know anything about him at all. They represent the lost generation because the lost generation was clueless and careless. They all go about spreading their rumors, drinking their alcohol, and destroying Gatsby’s house not even knowing or caring who he is.
The lost is shown so far in every chapter of the book. It is a reoccurring theme within the book without even saying it. All the characters within show some characteristic of the lost generation. The one character that is the most lost is Tom and the one that is the least lost is Nick.
Angelina Smith
Period 2
4/9/13
670 words
