Rori McGuire

AP Lit 3rd Hour

Compare and Contrast Essay
1/16/15
The dramatic events of the 1920s inspired many writers to delve into the variety
of life at that time. F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and Toni Morrisons JAZZ
show very different viewpoints of ironically similar characters living in that controversial
decade. Fitzgerald depicted the white populations perception of the Jazz Age as a time
of self-indulgence, while Morrison showed the black communities Harlem Renaissance
as a time of discovery. The two novels have parallels in their characters, settings, and
themes, but the opposite viewpoints lead to exorbitant contrasts.
Fitzgerald set his novel around upper class white citizens of New York. As the
originator of the term the Jazz Age, his characters were immersed in jazz. Ironically
though, his characters visit Manhattan to see a jazz performance instead of going to
Harlem, the birthplace of jazz. While the white dominance in the novel is strong, African
American presence only exists briefly in two scenes. In chapter four, Fitzgerald mentions
black men riding in a limousine driven by a white man. He wrote this in a demeaning
tone presenting it as ridiculous and laughable. The men are referred to in a
condescending and stereotypical tone. The only other time African Americans are
referred to in Gatsby was chapter seven when a pale, well dressed negro was the sole
witness to the death of Myrtle. In contrast, JAZZ takes place in Harlem from an African
American perspective. Morrison focuses her account of the 1920s as rich in African
heritage. Morrison has set her characters in the African American environment that
Fitzgerald ignored, the 1920s jazz capital of the world. From the vantage point of
Harlem, New York, she uses the main characters of JAZZ to rebuke Fitzgerald and his
white-centric portrayal as she reminds readers of the contributions of a rich cultural

McGuire 2
heritage of a disadvantaged group of people (Denby). Morrisons characters unfortunate
lives lead them to become better people, while Fitzgeralds privileged shallow characters
are horribly insensitive people.
A number of relationships can be found between the characters of the two novels.
For instance, in the similarities of the two female lead characters names Daisy and
Violet. The most obvious comparison would be of the womens names being that of
flowers. They both have very delicate looks as a representation of those flowers. They
also share the agony of unfaithful husbands. However, most comparisons stop there.
Daisy is a young rich socialite. She lives a privileged life housed neatly in a big beautiful
mansion. Daisy spends most of her time concerned with social matters, and her
reputation in between bouts of boredom. Although she has a very easy life, she does
experience significant pain from Toms affair with Myrtle. Daisys priorities are very
self-focused even though she has a three-year-old daughter. She spends very little time
fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of motherhood.
Violet, on the other hand, is an older woman. She is not remotely concerned in
regards to social activities. When it comes to interacting socially, many people who meet
her consider her oddly introverted. She has a very simple life in Harlem, but it keeps her
incredibly busy. She works constantly, in an attempt to keep up with her bills, and yearns
for a moment of rest. However, Violet can be somewhat of an aggressive woman, and she
is not considered very cultured. She has a depth of character that comes from her
hardships. One hardship that is clearly reflected in her character is her inability to
become a mother. This burden is even more exasperated as she deals with her husbands
adulterous betrayal.

McGuire 3
The ladies husbands also share many comparisons. Their names, Tom and Joe,
are both very simple, common names composed of both three letters and one syllable.
Tom is still a relatively young, handsome, white man although the years have taken
somewhat of a toll on his figure. He comes from an old money background and has,
throughout his entire life, experienced a life of privilege. Tom does not know what it is
like to be in want. Toms over indulgent lifestyle contributes to his arrogant selfrighteous personality. Such a personality has led him to be disliked by many which does
not seem to affect him nor his self esteem at all. With Toms pedigree, you would expect
him to be somewhat of a gentleman, but he comes across quite the opposite. He is a
manipulative bully who philanders openly without regard for the feelings of his wife,
though he is hypocritically incensed when she has an affair with her old flame (Avey).
The woman he has the affair with reveals more about his debased personality. His
haphazard choice of Myrtle, who is quite beneath his social position, further shows that
material wealth does not make one a person of quality.
Joe, however, is older and still attractive. Joes background is nothing like Toms.
Joe was adopted at a young age, and he was devastated that his mother didnt want him.
He works very hard as a waiter and a cosmetics salesman to make ends meet for him and
his wife. Although he has little, and works very lowly jobs, he is well liked within his
community. Joe is especially well liked by women. He is known to go out of his way to
help others. He is very gentlemanly, but he is far from perfect. He is unable to cope with
his wife's mental breakdown. As a result, he pursues a secret affair with Dorcus, a
teenage girl, who he murders after she rejects him.

McGuire 4
Neither Joe and Violet nor Tom and Daisy are portrayed as perfect people. They
both make serious mistakes. Their imperfections are what make them realistic as
characters. However, while Joe and Violet are originally portrayed in a negative
connotation, as their motives are revealed, the reader becomes more understanding of the
mistakes they have made and become more attached to the characters. On the other hand,
Tom and Daisy start out with a relatively positive perception, but as the book goes on
their cruel and selfish motives drive the reader away.
Many comparisons can also be found in the themes of Gatsby and JAZZ. While
the American Dream and the hollowness of the upper-class life are major themes in
Gatsby, they are minor themes in JAZZ. Conversely, violence, motherhood, and race are
major themes in JAZZ, but they are minor themes in Gatsby (Denby). Considering the
idea of JAZZ being a type of parody against The Great Gatsby, Morrison no doubt did
this on purpose. Morrison plays out a completely different aspect of 1920s New York
that The Great Gatsby overshadows. The themes played out in The Great Gatsby
highlight the white community and have the same shallow meaning that come with an
excess of money. Within JAZZ, you find much deeper and more controversial themes
that reflect the black community in the 1920s.
The 1920s were an influential time for those who lived it. Everything was
changing. Morals were abhorrent compared to what they used to be, African Americans
were heavily influencing music, and people were finding ways to amass fortunes in one
lifetime. Everything was changing and everybody, no matter who they were or what
color their skin was, had to adjust. It didnt matter if you were poor African Americans in
Harlem or rich white people in East or West Egg. Everyone needed to find out how they

McGuire 5
fit into this new definition of society. Everyone was trying new things and getting out of
their comfort zone. No matter where you were in the 1920s you could not avoid the
impending changes.
The adjacency of Harlem and Long Island would seem to show more similarities
while in reality there are practically no cultural consistencies. Long Island is filled with
rich white people with no emotional or moral depth. Long Island has a feeling of
pretentiousness. With the exception of Gatsbys place, the island is rather stale with the
stench of wealth. Harlem is quite the opposite. It is filled with poor black people who
pour their pain out through music. The place is alive with new and creative ideas. Its
the birthplace of a whole new genre of music. Harlem has a depth to it that you cannot
find within the old fashion mansions in Long Island.
Placing Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby side-by-side with Morrisons JAZZ leads to
some very interesting conclusions. Tom and Daisy can be considered by many to be
superior to Joe and Violet who seem to be inferior. However, Tom and Daisys lives are
shallow and purposeless and give no cultural contribution to society. They also show no
semblance of loyalty to anything but their money. Joe and Violet, although poor, have
depth to them. They have wants and needs, and they do not merely just exist. Joe and
Violet are culturally significant characters. It raises the question, which society is better
the upper class superficial white one, or the economically disadvantaged black one? A
persons moral perception of what is right will answer that question.