Gatsby's Frontier example essay topic

As the west came to a close, many awoke and believed that the American dream was over. But some believed that closing the door to the west opened the door to the east, the modern frontier. Fredrick Jackson Turner argued that there are key characteristics of the American culture, which can be contributed to the frontier, such as: the tendency for mobility, materialism and wastefulness, and optimism. Turner made his opinions clear in the thesis to his paper, "The Significance of the Frontier in American History". Many of these attributes of the American culture can be seen in some of the characters of the historic novel, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald used, The Great Gatsby, to show how the closing of the frontier did not bring the destruction of the American dream.

In fact the closing of the frontier, not only caused the American dream to migrate east but it also taught the American people that the American dream could never die. This is because the American dream is a state of mind, were everyone has a chance or an opportunity to reach their goals. So as one man's frontier closes another man's opens. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the tendency for mobility is very obvious. This tendency derives from Fredrick Jackson Turner's famous paper entitled "The Significance of the Frontier in American History". Many settlers of the frontier moved very often for many different reasons.

This tendency can also be seen in some of the characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous novel. One person who displays this characteristic is Nick Carraway. Nick's tendency for mobility can be seen very early in the novel. Nick grew restless of his boring little town and wanted to work in bonds.

Nick left his middle-western town and moved east looking for excitement and opportunity. Nick resided in West Egg, a small town just out side of New York. However, Nick was unhappy and didn't like the selfish, low moral lifestyle of the east. "After Gatsby's death the East was haunted for me like that, distorted beyond my eyes' power of correction. So when the blue smoke of brittle leaves was in the air and the wind blew the wet laundry stiff on the line I decided to come back home". (185) Nick, only living in West Egg for little under a year, packed his bags and moved back west.

Turner also believed and argued that the frontier added materialism and wastefulness into American culture. This part of the American culture is supported and can be examined by looking at Gatsby, a character in, The Great Gatsby. Gatsby as a young man was in love with a beautiful young woman named Daisy. Gatsby went off to war and returned to find Daisy already married. Daisy had married a young rich man by the name of Tom Buchanan. Gatsby never forgot Daisy.

Gatsby as an adult made a great deal of money through illegal ways and hopped to impress and win back his lost love. He bought a gigantic, exquisite mansion, even though he was the only one residing in the house. Gatsby threw elaborate parties with hundreds of guest all summer long. "There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights.

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars". (43) These parties would continue all night and his house and property would sustain a substantial amount of damage. "And on Monday eight servants including an extra gardener toiled all day with mops and scrubbing-brushes and hammers and garden shears, repairing the ravages of the night before". (43) Gatsby also showed a great deal of wastefulness when it came to his clothes. He had all of his clothes shipped from Europe, which were very expensive.

And there was a scene where he took all of his clothes out of his closet and threw them all over, as they were rags. For the most part every person who ventured west had one thing in common, they all were optimistic. They never knew if a drought would kill off all their crops or if Indians would attack them. Turner believed that this optimism is apart of every American. This optimism can be seen when we look at Gatsby, a character in The Great Gatsby. Gatsby started life as a normal everyday person, he wasn't rich, and he wasn't poor.

Gatsby, a boy, knew he wanted and would achieve more than being a middle class citizen. In order to prepare for his life of greatness and wealth, he created a very tight and self-improving schedule". 'It just shows you. Jimmy (Gatsby) was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. ' " (182) Gatsby also displayed optimism in his love for Daisy.

Even though it had been years since the two had been together he still believed that he had a chance to win back his lost love". 'Can't repeat the past?' He cried incredulously. 'Why of course you can!' " (116) Even though Daisy was married to Tom, Gatsby still could not accept the idea of him and Daisy never being together again". 'You don't understand,' said Gatsby, with a touch of panic. 'You " re not going to take care of her any more. ' 'I'm not?' Tom opened his eyes wide and laughed...

'Why's that?' Daisy is leaving you. ' " (140) Gatsby closed his eyes to the truth and sincerely believed that Daisy would leave Tom for him. Many characters in The Great Gatsby support Turners thesis. Most of these characters moved east searching for their own frontier. Every character had their own personal frontier, a place that enables them to full fill and live out there dreams. Gatsby's was the most obvious.

Gatsby's frontier was the East, it gave him a chance to obtain his dream: wealth, acceptance, success and most of all, Daisy. The American dream varies from person to person but as long as America remains free, there will always be a frontier. "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgasmic future that no matter-tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... And one fine morning-" (189).