On the "Emptiness" of American Culture in The Great Gatsby

張軍梅

Abstract：F. Scott Fitzgerald created a myth， The Great Gatsby， out of American life as an embodiment of the nation. This paper aims to explore American culture that has been "emptied out" of morality and meaning under the influence of pervasive capitalism， which reduces the assessment of one's social value to wealth attainment.

Key words：Gatsby； emptiness； American culture

中圖分類號：G648 文獻標識碼：B 文章編號：1672-1578（2014）02-0005-01

1.Introduction

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an outstanding stylist in American literature. His greatness lies in the fact that he created a myth， The Great Gatsby， out of American life as an embodiment of the nation. The modernist work recounts people's attempt to escape from the violence of World War I and the desire to enjoy a life of extravagance. Fitzgerald depicts America as both backward and advanced through the eyes of Nick Carraway， an acute observer， and of the elite he belongs to. Although the characters in this story try to seek new identities， they recapture a destroyed world. Thus， a cohesive vision of American society begins to materialize. In this story Fitzgerald focuses on the corrupting power of capitalist ideals and the "emptiness" of American culture， which greatly arouses readers' interest.

2.The "Emptiness" of American Culture

Although "emptied out" American culture is more closely associated with the late 20th century postmodern discourse， The Great Gatsby equally shows the concept， perhaps even more explicitly. As an ideology， capitalism aims to bridge the abstract world and meaningful values with materials， to prove that it is wealth rather than morality that balances individuals and ideal behaviors. In The Great Gatsby， This is presented most convincingly in the character of Gatsby. Gatsby lives in a gaudy， oversized， and lavishly furnished house， where there is an enormous library Gatsby never uses. His parties invite guests as unreal and fantastic as Gatsby himself， like a caricature without history. Therefore， it is highly significant for the orchestra to play Vladimir Tostoff's "History of the World" at such a party， as it provides a valuable glimpse into Fitzgerald's America. As the orchestra begins， Nick begins his most telling narration：

"When the 'Jazz History of World' was over， girls were putting their heads on men's shoulders in a puppyish， convivial way， girls were swooning backward playfully into men's arms， even into groups…but no one swooned backward on Gatsby， and no French bob touched Gatsby's shoulder， and no singing quartets were formed with Gatsby's head for one link."

The significance of the passage can be explored from two aspects. On the one hand， the emptiness of Gatsby's cultural capitalism is highlighted through the orchestra's playing "History of the World". Such a historical composition is played to an audience without history， which is ironic. As Nick implies， these guests are not Gatsby's personal friends. They behave "according to the rules of behavior associated with an amusement park"， coming and going without meeting Gatsby at all. They go to the palatial estate attracted by the desiring lavishness of the wealth， devoid of any social value like Gatsby's mansion. Gatsby's estate and his parties exist as a result of great wealth， while the inhabitants appear transient and ridiculous.

On the other hand， Nick observes that "no one swooned backward on Gatsby， and no French bob touched Gatsby's shoulder， and no singing quarters were formed with Gatsby's head for one link." Here Gatsby's lack of community and friendship is an outward reflection of his internal emptiness. Despite great wealth， he is unable to overcome his own sense of alienation. Besides， as Gatsby's desire for happiness with Daisy is glorified by Nick， his dream miniatures the stereotyped American idealism. He doesn't aspire to create a better future， as his father implies later in the story. He desires to recapture a fantasized past， to "acquire a conventional security， no matter how corrupt； his goal is not to establish a new social order but to enter one that is so empty and trivial".

Gatsby's speech linguistically manifests such superficial values. His language is kind of cliché with little meaning， which is typified by his habit of addressing Nick as "old sport". Conforming to his status as a social outsider Gatsby speaks "with care"， so his words are not his own. Since he must invent a new language belonging to himself， he finds no meaningful way to communicate with others. In fact， the name of Gatsby itself reveals its rhetorical emptiness. The root of Gatsby， Gat， means "hole" in German and to "hole， gap， or break" in Dutch. After making his fortune Gatsby changes his original name James Gatz， which presents the process of "emptying out"， as it is necessary for him to enter the corrupt social order in which Daisy lives.

Although Gatsby envisions recapturing Daisy as kind of victory， Daisy with her voice "full of money" is regarded as a traditional siren figure. Gatsby's life is bound to go in this way-there is a dream at first， then disenchantment， and finally a sense of failure and despair. In the "emptied" culture what he has been pursuing is also empty.

3.Conclusion

Gatsby's personal experience reflects the thinking pattern and lifestyle of almost all Americans up to the first few decades of the 20th century. Fitzgerald's vision of America through Gatsby suggests that in an "emptied" society and culture， American dream is doomed to disillusion. The tragedy of Gatsby tolls the bell for American dream.

References

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