satire (n): the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or
ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in
the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues
As we have experienced in the Diamond as Big as the Ritz and
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald is a huge fan of satire because,
as demonstrated in both pieces, let’s just say humans are less than perfect in judgment. A huge element that Fitzgerald likes to criticize is the materialism
of the upper class, such as when Percy and John are riding to the house in an
extravagant car, “‘This thing?’ Percy laughed. ‘Why, it’s just an old junk we
use for a station wagon’” (Fitzgerald 79).
This quote effectively criticizes the materialism of the
wealthy. Let’s not forget that just a few sentences ago, this “old junk” was
described as having upholstery consisting of “a thousand minute and exquisite tapestries
of silk, woven with jewels and embroideries, and set upon a background of cloth
of gold” (Fitzgerald 79). This shows that the wealthy are so clouded by materialistic
desires that they can’t even recognize the beauty of what surrounds them. In
other words, nothing will ever be good enough for them.
There are many other quotes that describe the materialism
experienced by the wealthy, but this one truly encompasses it. The lavish,
luxury vehicle seen by John is simply a rickety, old, piece of junk to Percy.
This is proof of wealth changing how we see the world. This leads us to believe
that Fitzgerald disapproves of this quality, and rightfully so. After all, if
he believed it to be a good trait, would his pieces even be satirical?
