Shadow, Anima, and Animus in The Great Gatsby

Archetypes in The Great Gatsby

SHADOW:  hidden or unconscious aspects of oneself, both good and bad, which the ego has either repressed or never recognized

ANIMA:  female aspect present in the collective unconscious of men

v Personified as a girl, witch, mother, protective spirit

v Spontaneous

v Deeply emotional

v Akin to life force

v Relational principle, “Eros”

ANIMUS:  male aspect present in the collective unconscious of women

Ø Personified as a wise old man, sorcerer, father figure, mentor

Ø Logical

Ø Rational

Ø Argumentative

Ø Logical principle, “Logos”

Consider how each of the following archetypes present themselves in the novel, The Great Gatsby. You might ask yourself the following questions to aid in your search:

In what way(s) do the various characters display hints of a "darker side" to their personality?

In The Great Gatsby, each character displays a darker side to their personality

Jay Gatsby

• Obsessive Idealism: Gatsby’s romantic idealization of Daisy drives him to fabricate his identity and amass wealth through dubious means. His fixation blinds him to Daisy’s flaws and leads to his downfall.

• Dishonesty: Gatsby lies about his past, claiming to be an "Oxford man" and coming from an affluent family when, in reality, he built his fortune through criminal activities like bootlegging.

• Manipulativeness: Gatsby orchestrates situations, such as his reunion with Daisy, with little regard for the emotional consequences on others, including Tom and even Nick.

Daisy Buchanan

• Selfishness: Daisy is drawn to Gatsby’s wealth and attention but lacks the courage to leave Tom for him. Her actions suggest she values comfort and security over genuine love.

• Moral Cowardice: After Gatsby’s death, Daisy avoids responsibility and retreats into the safety of her marriage to Tom, showing an inability to face the consequences of her actions.

• Indifference: Her carelessness is most evident when she accidentally kills Myrtle in a hit-and-run but allows Gatsby to take the blame.

Tom Buchanan

• Arrogance and Entitlement: Tom embodies the arrogance of old-money wealth, looking down on others, including Gatsby and Myrtle, whom he uses and discards.

• Violence and Cruelty: Tom is physically abusive toward Myrtle and domineering in his relationships, asserting his power through aggression.

• Hypocrisy: While he condemns Gatsby’s background and behavior, he has no qualms about his infidelity and dishonesty.

Jordan Baker

• Dishonesty: Jordan is known for being deceitful, including cheating in a golf tournament and lying to manipulate situations to her advantage.

• Cynicism: Her detached demeanor and willingness to participate in the deceptions around her reveal a lack of moral depth.

Myrtle Wilson

• Materialism and Ambition: Myrtle is willing to betray her husband for a chance at the wealth and status she believes Tom can offer her.

• Desperation: Her attempts to escape her life with George are marked by recklessness and moral ambiguity, ultimately leading to her tragic death.

George Wilson

• Despair and Obsession: George initially appears meek, but after Myrtle’s death, his grief transforms into a consuming desire for revenge, leading to Gatsby’s murder.

• Moral Fragility: His inability to process betrayal and loss makes him susceptible to manipulation by Tom, who feeds him misinformation about Gatsby.

How is the world in which the characters abide corrupt or less than perfect?

What does the "ideal" man or woman in Gatsby's world look like? From whose point of view? How does this ideal coincide with reality?

How is the world in which the characters abide corrupt or less than perfect?

1. Materialism and the Pursuit of Wealth

• The characters live in a world dominated by the pursuit of wealth and social status. Material possessions are seen as markers of success, but this focus on materialism leads to emptiness and moral decay.

  • Gatsby’s Mansion: While grand and plentiful, it symbolizes hollow success. Gatsby's wealth is acquired through criminal activities, reflecting the dark side of the American Dream.

  • Daisy and Tom: The Buchanans epitomize old money privilege, using their wealth as a shield to escape responsibility for their actions.

2. Class Divisions and Inequality

• The novel portrays stark divisions between social classes, where old money (East Egg), new money (West Egg), and the working class (the valley of ashes) inhabit distinctly different worlds.

  • East Egg: Represents inherited wealth and elitism. Characters like Tom and Daisy treat others with condescension, using their social position to justify their moral failings.

  • The Valley of Ashes: A desolate wasteland symbolizing the plight of the working class. George and Myrtle Wilson struggle in this gray, barren environment, overshadowed by the wealthier classes who exploit or ignore them.

3. Moral Decay and Lack of Responsibility

• Characters routinely engage in deceit, betrayal, and manipulation, often without facing meaningful consequences.

  • Daisy’s Hit-and-Run: Daisy kills Myrtle but leaves Gatsby to take the blame. This act of recklessness and cowardice is symbolic of the carelessness of the wealthy.

  • Tom’s Exploitation: Tom cheats on Daisy with Myrtle and manipulates George into killing Gatsby, showing no remorse for the destruction he causes.

  • Jordan’s Dishonesty: Jordan’s casual approach to lying reflects the broader moral laxity of her social circle.

4. The Decline of the American Dream

• The novel critiques the American Dream, showing how it has been corrupted by greed and superficial values.

  • Gatsby’s Dream: Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of Daisy is tied to his belief that wealth can buy happiness and status, but this ideal is ultimately unattainable and destructive.

  • Illusion vs. Reality: The characters chase illusions of happiness—Gatsby with Daisy and Myrtle with Tom—only to face the harsh reality that their dreams are built on shallow foundations.

5. Hedonism and Excess

• The 1920s were marked by prohibition and the rise of speakeasies, fostering a culture of excess and disregard for traditional norms.

  • Gatsby’s Parties: Lavish and decadent, these gatherings highlight the era’s focus on spectacle and indulgence. Yet, they are filled with superficial connections, and Gatsby himself remains lonely amid the crowds.

  • Alcohol and Escapism: Characters often use alcohol as an escape from their problems, further underscoring their inability to confront reality.

6. Lack of Justice and Accountability

• The novel’s ending emphasizes the absence of justice in this world:

  • Gatsby, despite his flaws, is portrayed as a tragic figure who takes the blame for Daisy’s crime and pays with his life.

  • Daisy and Tom retreat into their wealth, avoiding responsibility for the destruction they leave behind.

  • The moral individuals, like Nick, are disillusioned by the corruption they witness, ultimately choosing to leave this toxic environment.

What does the "ideal" man or woman in Gatsby's world look like? From whose point of view? How does this ideal coincide with reality?

The Ideal Woman

Daisy Buchanan: The Ideal Woman

• From Gatsby’s Point of View:

  • Daisy represents the ultimate ideal: beauty, grace, charm, and wealth. To Gatsby, she embodies everything he has ever wanted—status, success, and love.

  • He sees her as flawless, elevating her to a pedestal as a symbol of his dreams rather than a real person with imperfections.

  • Reality: Daisy is shallow, selfish, and incapable of living up to Gatsby’s idealization. She prioritizes comfort and security over love or loyalty.

From Society’s Point of View:

• Women like Daisy epitomize the 1920s flapper ideal: fashionable, carefree, and alluring.

• This ideal woman is also tied to wealth and privilege, as seen in Daisy’s ability to captivate those around her with her effortless charm and her "voice full of money."

• Reality: Beneath the surface, this ideal woman is passive, ornamental, and often morally ambiguous. Daisy, for example, is more concerned with appearances and material comforts than genuine relationships.

Jordan Baker: An Alternate Ideal

• Independent and Modern: Jordan represents a more progressive ideal for women, being independent, athletic, and career-oriented (as a professional golfer).

• Reality: Her independence is marred by dishonesty and cynicism, and she, too, lacks depth in her emotional connections, making her a flawed role model.

The Ideal Man

From various perspectives:

Jay Gatsby: The Ideal Man

• From Daisy’s Point of View:

  • Gatsby is the dreamer, a man of grand gestures and unwavering devotion. He represents the thrilling allure of possibility and the promise of romantic escape from her mundane marriage.

  • Reality: Gatsby’s persona is built on lies and illegal activities, and his obsessive devotion to Daisy blinds him to her shortcomings.

From Society’s Point of View:

• The ideal man in Gatsby’s world is wealthy, successful, and powerful, embodying the "self-made man" who achieves the American Dream.

• Gatsby’s grand parties, extravagant mansion, and mysterious persona align with this ideal.

• Reality: Gatsby’s wealth is obtained through illegal means, and his success is hollow. He remains an outsider in the eyes of the old-money elite, unable to achieve the societal ideal fully.

Tom Buchanan: An Alternate Ideal

• Traditional Masculinity: Tom represents the old-money ideal of masculinity: physically strong, aggressive, and socially dominant.

• Reality: Tom is arrogant, abusive, and hypocritical. His confidence and privilege mask his insecurity and lack of moral character.

How These Ideals Coincide with Reality

1. Illusions vs. Imperfections:

   • The characters’ ideals are shaped by illusions rather than reality. Gatsby idealizes Daisy without recognizing her flaws, while Daisy and society value wealth and power over integrity.

   • In reality, these ideals are unattainable or unsatisfying, leading to disillusionment and tragedy.

2. Societal Critique:

   • Fitzgerald uses these flawed ideals to critique the shallow and materialistic values of the Jazz Age.

   • The "ideal" man or woman is often more concerned with appearances and status than with genuine morality or emotional fulfillment.

3. Disillusionment:

   • The characters' failure to reconcile their ideals with reality—Gatsby’s dream of Daisy, Daisy’s desire for wealth and love, and society’s pursuit of material success—drives the novel’s central conflicts and its tragic ending.