puritans

puritanism

Puritanism was a religious reform movement that emerged in late  16^th and 17^th century England, aiming to "purify" the Church of England from remnants of Roman Catholic practices that remained after the Reformation under Queen Elizabeth I

key characteristics

Religious and moral seriousness: Puritans believed in living disciplined lives based on strict interpretation of the Bible.

• Church reform: They pushed for changes in worship and church governance to align more closely with what they saw as biblical principles.

• National transformation: They hoped to set a model for the entire nation through their way of life.

historical impact

• Their demands and opposition to the established church contributed to the English Civil War.

• Many Puritans migrated to North America, founding colonies like Massachusetts Bay as experiments in creating godly societies.

how does it relate to GG?

•Critics, such as John A. Pidgeon, argue that Gatsby's pursuit of wealth for personal desire is anti-Puritanical, opposing the original American Dream rooted in morality and righteous living.Marcus Bewley's criticism adds that early American values emphasized goodness, and balance with nature, rather than material wealth. In contrast, the novel portrays a society where money and status take precedence over morality, and characters like Gatsby achieve success through personal effort rather than predetermined fate. This shift illustrates the corruption and moral decline of the modern American Dream compared to its Puritan origins.