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What are the themes of The Great Gatsby? What are the themes of The Great Gatsby?
The Great Gatsby is about the American dream The Great Gatsby is about the American dream
The Great Gatsby is about wealth The Great Gatsby is about wealth
The Great Gatsby is about love The Great Gatsby is about love
The Great Gatsby is about death The Great Gatsby is about death
The Great Gatsby is about social class The Great Gatsby is about social class
The Great Gatsby is about The Roaring Twenties The Great Gatsby is about The Roaring Twenties
The Great Gatsby is about materialism The Great Gatsby is about materialism
The Great Gatsby is about old money vs. new money The Great Gatsby is about old money vs. new money
The Great Gatsby is about Jay Gatsby's love for Daisy Buchanan The Great Gatsby is about Jay Gatsby's love for Daisy Buchanan
The Great Gatsby is about Nick Carraway exploring his sexuality The Great Gatsby is about Nick Carraway exploring his sexuality
Jay Gatsby’s death is symbolic of the demise of the great American dream. Jay Gatsby’s death is symbolic of the demise of the great American dream.
Myrtle Wilson's death is one of the main themes of the Great Gatsby Myrtle Wilson's death is one of the main themes of the Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby's rise to wealth and popularity shows that social class is the theme of the Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby's rise to wealth and popularity shows that social class is the theme of the Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby's parties symbolize the shallowness of the upper class in The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby's parties symbolize the shallowness of the upper class in The Great Gatsby
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What are the themes of The Great Gatsby?
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The Great Gatsby is about love

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The Great Gatsby is about Nick Carraway exploring his sexuality

Throughout the novel, Nick was involved in suggestive scenes with both men and women but did not have a lasting romantic relationship with anyone. This serves as a nod to his journey in exploring his sexuality.
Books Education Literature Reading The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
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The Argument

In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway struggles with building a relationship with Jordan Baker. He is consistently nervous and uncomfortable in her presence and often does not know what to say.[1] While at a party in New York City, Nick goes off with Mr. McKee, eventually ending up in his bedroom. Readers are left to infer on their own, but it is obvious the two men had a sexual encounter.[2] Readers are able to see Nick struggle with his sexuality throughout the entire novel. This is proven by his awkward relationship with Jordan Baker, as well as the scene in Mr. McKee's bedroom.

Counter arguments

There is no concrete proof that Nick Carraway is struggling with his sexuality. His relationship with Jordan Baker ended due to how shy and quiet he is. In the scene with Mr. McKee, he never explicitly states what happens, so readers cannot draw conclusions.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Nick Carraway is nervous around women. [P2] Nick Carraway was in Mr. McKee's bedroom. [P3] Nick Carraway is struggling with his sexuality.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Nick Carraway is not nervous around his cousin, Daisy Buchanan.

References

  1. https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/05/-i-the-great-gatsby-i-movie-needed-to-be-more-gay/275768/
  2. https://themillions.com/2018/04/the-queering-of-nick-carraway.html
This page was last edited on Monday, 26 Oct 2020 at 13:06 UTC

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