In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald proudly tackles the themes of spirituality and moral decay. His attack is remarkably hidden because his message lies in what is missing, rather than what is there. The world presented in this story is one of excess, folly, and pleasure, a world where people are so busy living in the moment that they have lost any sense of morality. In fact every one of the seven deadly sins (pride, lust, gluttony, envy, sloth, avarice, and wrath) is well represented. None of the characters, including honest Nick, are free from these deadly devices which, surprisingly enough, have traditionally marked the downfall of a community. And it is even more interesting to note that although the seven deadly sins are depicted over and over again by the people in The Great Gatsby, their theological counterpart, the seven cardinal virtues (faith, hope, love, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) are quite honestly invisible. Gatsby certainly has more hope than all the others put together, but, in the end, that one thing, no matter how strong, can't save him.
Now Fitzgerald may not be advocating a severe Christian message, but rather he is encouraging readers to stop and take inventory of their lives. Although some may see Fitzgerald as implying a return to God is necessary for survival, the text supports something far more subtle: a reconsideration of where society is and where it is going.
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