“They’re a Rotten Crowd” What Does This Quote Mean?

In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Nick tells his only compliment to Gatsby. He states that Gatsby is worth more than the whole upper-class at the time. This quote means that he is a better person than most people, superficial and vain. It is even though Gatsby’s happy life is illusional.

More Information:

In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald emphasizes the illusoriness of the American Dream. One of the famous The Great Gatsby quotes belongs to Nick Carraway. In Chapter 8, he says to Jay Gatsby: “They’re a rotten crowd… you’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” With these words, Nick expresses his true feelings about Gatsby’s life and achievements. Even though Gatsby’s lifestyle causes scorn in Nick, Gatsby stands out from the rest of the upper-class as a person.

By comparing Gatsby to the “rotten crowd,” Nick contrasts him to Tom and Daisy Buchanan in the first place. Unlike Gatsby, they turn out to be cynical, shallow, and unworthy. Similarly, people who attend the man’s exquisite parties use him as an opportunity to have fun. Residents of both East and West Egg chase luxurious lives. But for Nick, Gatsby is better than the fake crowd from West Egg.

Overall, Gatsby’s life is an embodiment of the American Dream, and he spent it trying to pursue happiness. However, his ultimate goal is not wealth, but a happy time with his love, Daisy. Nick’s words emphasize that Gatsby’s life is not meaningless, unlike that of the rest of the affluent class. What ultimately happens to Gatsby represents the tragic end of his dream. At the same time, the “rotten crowd” with decayed moral values continues to live.

Answer's rating:

(votes: 7)