His children sold his house with the black wreath still on his door. Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry. (p. 75)
In Context:
This comment was made by Nick rather off-handedly in chapter 5; he was waiting for Gatsby and Daisy to have their reunion in peace. Fitzgerald subtly adds this at the end of a story about a man's children selling his property. Although, the story that Nick was telling was about the builder of Gatsby's mansion; he offered to pay his neighbours' taxes if they would thatch their roofs with straw. They refused.
Literary Importance: Aphorism
In these two brief statement, Fitzgerald comments the absurdity that is the American Dream; the people's moral compass has been exchanged for materialistic ideals. In that sense, the black wreath is a symbol of one's passing and the children's haste to sell the house shows their uncaring. The next statement is the aphorism. First, Nick uses the term "serf" in reference to the people's willingness to work as wage slaves in a capitalist economic system. This wording implies that there is no inherent limits to how far one can rise in society. However, peasantry implies a class restriction; there is no place for workers to rise in ranks. But in truth, they're essentially the same concept, just under different labels. Because at the end of the day, no matter which pretense you choose, both serfs and peasants are poor. Fitzgerald may be commenting that Americans willing sell themselves to work hard for a business versus appearing as social inferiors, American pride if you will.
Further Exploration:
- http://althouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/americans-while-occasionally-willing- to.html
- http://lit.genius.com/1532723/F-scott-fitzgerald-the-great-gatsby-chapter-v/Americans-while-occasionally-willing-to-be-serfs-have-always-been-obstinate-about-being-peasantry
This comment was made by Nick rather off-handedly in chapter 5; he was waiting for Gatsby and Daisy to have their reunion in peace. Fitzgerald subtly adds this at the end of a story about a man's children selling his property. Although, the story that Nick was telling was about the builder of Gatsby's mansion; he offered to pay his neighbours' taxes if they would thatch their roofs with straw. They refused.
Literary Importance: Aphorism
In these two brief statement, Fitzgerald comments the absurdity that is the American Dream; the people's moral compass has been exchanged for materialistic ideals. In that sense, the black wreath is a symbol of one's passing and the children's haste to sell the house shows their uncaring. The next statement is the aphorism. First, Nick uses the term "serf" in reference to the people's willingness to work as wage slaves in a capitalist economic system. This wording implies that there is no inherent limits to how far one can rise in society. However, peasantry implies a class restriction; there is no place for workers to rise in ranks. But in truth, they're essentially the same concept, just under different labels. Because at the end of the day, no matter which pretense you choose, both serfs and peasants are poor. Fitzgerald may be commenting that Americans willing sell themselves to work hard for a business versus appearing as social inferiors, American pride if you will.
Further Exploration:
- http://althouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/americans-while-occasionally-willing- to.html
- http://lit.genius.com/1532723/F-scott-fitzgerald-the-great-gatsby-chapter-v/Americans-while-occasionally-willing-to-be-serfs-have-always-been-obstinate-about-being-peasantry