Cliques, Class and Society: Can I Force My Way In?

Cliques. Class. Society. All titles we give to the way we function and interact with one another. Cliques often imply a small group of people who share a common interest or set of values. Class is a way of determining the status or "quality" of a person dependent on their background. Society at large is how all we operate and interact and the relationships we have with other people.

In the Great Gatsby however, society holds the meaning of rich, upper class members. Characters are seen to have a need to attain and uphold this status in high society, as in the case of Jay Gatsby. He works to attain wealth to become part of this society and maintains this status by holding lavish parties.

So the question is, can I force my way into these divisions amongst us? Well, would you really want to?

Often we can find a clique that suits us to a degree, but since we are all unique, individuals, there is really no way of finding the perfect "clique". One of the best things about knowing a multitude of people is the diversity it presents. No two people are alike, so why would we categorize ourselves into society based upon common traits and values? Class is another way of limiting our individualism. Based upon inherent upbringing, education, wealth or appearances, we place people in a certain social status that is hard to escape. Jay Gatsby came from a lower class and tried his whole life to attain a higher class level, never accepting who he was as an individual because he wanted to impress other people, particularly Daisy. Since Daisy was so preconditioned to this system of discrimination, she never loved him for his true self. Class and cliques are simply a way to forget individualism.

Cliques, class and society distinctions have a way of making us feel like we're on the outside looking in.


But can you force your way in? It may seem better in another class or higher society to some, promoting ideals of better lifestyles and opportunities. However, The Great Gatsby highlights the pitfalls of forcing your way in. Gatsby finally achieves all he had dreamed of financially and becomes considered as part of the upper class. But at his own parties, he keeps to himself and limits interactions with upper members of the upper class, because he does not feel like he truly belongs there. Why would he try so hard to fit in with a class of people that could not accept him for all the hard work and success he had achieved throughout his lifetime?

Jay Gatsby often felt like an outsider to the upper class.

The feeling of not belonging is shared by the narrator of the story, Nick Carraway. He observes Gatsby knowing the true story and honestly accepts Gatsby for who he is, respecting him. In the novel, Nick is considered upper class because of his new wealth, but has not yet become distinctively known as part of the higher society of Long Island because he is a newcomer, leaving him unattached to social distictions. His outsider view shows the importance of being an individual, because he acts as a true friend to Gatsby.

The author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald shares a cynical approach to cliques, class and society by casting a shallow view upon these distinctions. At the end of the novel, the only people that remained truly loyal to Gatsby are the people that know of his true background and accept him for it. He had pretended to be something he was not to force his way in, and never truly gained anything. He never actually forced his way in because he didn't belong.

The best way to operate in society is to be yourself. Individuality is far more important than fitting into a clique, class or society.