The Destructive Power of Violence in 'The Great Gatsby'

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Violence is a prevalent theme in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel 'The Great Gatsby,' where it is used to depict power dynamics, passion, and the characters' disregard for others. Throughout the book, instances of violence and recklessness are evident, with three key examples being the character of Tom Buchanan, the symbolism of cars, and the tragic death of Myrtle Wilson. These examples highlight how violence serves as a tool for asserting dominance, showcasing wealth, and illustrating the consequences of negligence.

Tom Buchanan emerges as the epitome of violence in 'The Great Gatsby.

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' Fitzgerald portrays him as a wealthy, racist, and abusive aristocrat who seeks to exert control over those around him. One striking example of Tom's violent nature is seen in the scene where he breaks Myrtle Wilson's nose after she mentions Daisy's name. This act of physical aggression underscores Tom's need for dominance and his lack of regard for others' well-being. The quote, "Sometime toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs.

Wilson stood face to face discussing in impassioned voices whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy’s name. ‘Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!’ shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai—“ Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand," exemplifies Tom's violent tendencies and his inclination towards using force to assert his superiority.

In addition to character-driven violence, the novel also uses cars as symbols of recklessness and the consequences of unchecked passion. During the 1920s, cars were emblematic of wealth and freedom, but they also represented a source of danger and violence.

The aristocrats in the novel are often depicted driving their cars with a sense of reckless abandon, leading to chaotic and sometimes violent outcomes. For instance, in Chapter 3, a scene unfolds where a car is violently wrecked, symbolizing the destructive nature of the characters' behavior. The quote, "Fifty feet from the door a dozen headlights illuminated a bizarre and tumultuous scene. In the ditch beside the road, right side up but violently shorn of one wheel, rested a new coupé which had left Gatsby’s drive not two minutes before….. they had left their cars blocking the road a harsh discordant din from those in the rear had been audible for some time and added to the already violent confusion of the scene," captures the chaos and recklessness associated with the characters' use of cars.

Moreover, the tragic death of Myrtle Wilson further underscores the theme of violence in the novel. Myrtle's life is violently extinguished in a car accident, highlighting the devastating consequences of carelessness and negligence. The quote from Chapter 7, "The ‘death car’ as the newspapers called it, didn’t stop; it came out of the gathering darkness, wavered tragically for a moment and then disappeared around the next bend..………….. its driver hurried back to where Myrtle Wilson, her life violently extinguished, knelt in the road and mingled her thick, dark blood with the dust," portrays the abrupt and brutal nature of Myrtle's death, emphasizing the destructive power of violence.

Overall, 'The Great Gatsby' uses violence as a thematic device to explore the complexities of human behavior, power dynamics, and the consequences of unchecked passion. Through characters like Tom Buchanan, symbols like cars, and tragic events like Myrtle Wilson's death, Fitzgerald delves into the darker aspects of society and human nature. The novel serves as a poignant commentary on the destructive nature of violence and the ways in which it shapes the lives of the characters within the story.