女神: Goddess

10:15 PM Unknown 1 Comments

"Daisy and Jordan lay upon an enormous couch, like silver idols, weighing down their own white dresses against the singing breeze of the fans." (Fitzgerald, 122)

This line conjured up an image of Daisy and Jordan as goddesses, leaning against a shining gold couch, with clouds rolling in, curling around their dainty feet, and then over the peak of Mt. Olympus, which could be seen in the distance. It would make a fine painting.

Quite the display of wealth and sophistication, if you ask me. It’s pretty obvious that that’s what Fitzgerald wanted to achieve, with his use of “silver idols” and “singing breeze.” It creates an image of beauty and power, and reminded me of Greek mythology. By likening Daisy and Jordan to Greek goddesses, Fitzgerald is also comparing the lavishness of the era to Greek deities’ radiance – the “Roaring Twenties,” no doubt, were a time of great prosperity.

But I think there’s a darker interpretation of Fitzgerald’s seemingly beautiful allusion, and knowing the Fitzgerald’s purpose – that is, to decry the hedonistic lifestyle of the 1920’s – it’s not that difficult of a conclusion to come to. The Greek gods were not only famous for their immortality and extravagance – they also possessed very fallible human qualities. By likening The Great Gatsby to Greek mythology, Fitzgerald is also criticizing the rampant materialism that existed during the era. And that’s apparent throughout the rest of the book, too. Despite Gatsby’s lavish parties and Daisy’s apparent exuberance, nobody’s happy. Everybody just wants more, and that eventually leads to tragedy.