Biblical Allusions in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby Essay

The peachy Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the story of a land lost to superficiality and greed. Falsehood and deception are the currency which fuels the characters in the novel. Dwelling in this fallen world, Fitzgerald has placed a fallen god. Gatsby is bathed in descriptions that identify him as the Son of God. Fitzgerald makes a conscious effort to mask this character with imagery and actions to make him the patron deity of this fallen world, notwithstanding Gatsby is too much enveloped by his surroundings to save them and is consumed in the attempt. despite the biblical allusions, strong images and explicit statements identifying Gatsby with Christ, the prevailing tone of the novel prevents him from be a Christ-figure. A strong pattern of biblical allusions establishes an image of Gatsby as Jesus. The very first description of Gatsby conjures biblical images. Gatsby is described as having a heightened sensitivity to the promises of life and an extraordinary gift for hope (6). Jesus came that they whitethorn have life, and have it abundantly (Jn. 1010). Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, identifies hope as the second of the three theological virtues (1313). Furthermore, Nick describes Gatsbys handwrite as majestic, suggesting the mightship of Christ (46). Gatsbys kingdom, like Jesus is not of this world (Jn. 1836). When Gatsby stands in his yard, surveying the stars, Nick describes him as laying claim to a scratch of the heavens (25). Gatsbys parties are even reminiscent of biblical themes. Nick observes that people were not invited they went there (45). This recalls the parable of the wedding feast, in which, lacking invited guests, the king sends his soldiers out to the highways to gather ... ...Marius. Scott Fitzgeralds Criticism of America. Modern Critical Interpretations F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. Ed. Harold Bloom. untried York Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 11-27. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Engl and Penguin, 1990. Hack, Robert and Libby Stockstill. coloring material in The Great Gatsby. http//www.nmusd.k12.ca.us/cdmhs/gatsbycenter/roberthack&libbystockstill. November 29th 2001. OBrien, Meghan et al. Colour Imagery in The Great Gatsby. http//www.nmusd.k12.ca.us/cdmhs/gatsbycenter/meghanobrien/gg.html. November 29th 2001. Tanner, Tony. Introduction. The Great Gatsby. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald. England Penguin, 1990. vii-lvi. Way, Brian. The Great Gatsby. Modern Critical Interpretations F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 87-108.