The Last Dance

America is a land that highly values religion. Even though church and state are separate, religion still plays a large role in many Americans' lives. The power of religion and faith was clear in the readings from this past quarter. In some excerpts that we viewed this term, characters found guidance and comfort by being connected to a religious community and being close to a higher power. In other readings, characters were singled out for their faith instead of embraced. Religion should not be an aspect in American society that divides people, but rather it should unite people from different backgrounds. Religion has and remains present in American literature and life today. For example, schools and companies have days off for religious holidays, even though not everyone celebrates the same ones. Another daily activity that exemplifies this aspect in our country is the reciting of The Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school. Saying the pledge is not mandatory, but it is important to remember the words, “one nation under G-d.” It is no surprise then that the intersection of faith and arts was transparent for Scott Fitzgerald and more contemporary works.  Since the 1920s when The Great Gatsby was published all the way to 2013 when The Rich Brother was written, religion has centered the American backdrop.

In The Great Gatsby, many characters were affiliated with a religion and some even criticized other faiths. There were many cases of antisemitism, and it was clear that the characters held a belief that one religion was superior to others. Fitzgerald always gave very detailed descriptions of characters, but when he described a Jewish character, it was rude and based on stereotypes. A Jewish character named Mr. Wolfshiem was described by the narrator Nick as, “a small, flat-nosed Jew raised his large head and regarded me with two fine growths of hair which luxuriated in either nostril” (69). In this quote, there are several words that exemplify antisemitism including “small” “flat-nosed” and “large head.” This description is just a list of Jewish stereotypes, which include the fact that Jewish people are small, have a unique nose and are smart. Smart may seem like a compliment, but in this context a large head is offensive because it can mean that they know a lot more than others in a criticizing manner. Another character used an antisemitic slang word for Jew people. Mrs. McKee said, “I almost married a little kyke who’d been after me for years. I knew he was below me” (34). There are two major parts to this that single Jewish people out including the use of the word kyke and that a Jewish person was below her. These antisemitic comments show that America valued religion and viewed Judaism as an inferior religion. On the other hand, for Christians, it was an assumption that religion played a large role in their lives.  Mr. Wilson was in complete despair after his wife died and was questioned by Michaelis saying, “you ought to have a church, George, for times like this. You must have gone to church once” (157). Since Mr. Wilson was Christian, Michaelis was sure that he attended church because society took religion very seriously. In the 1920s religion was highly valued in American society because according to The Great Gatsby, it was an assumption that Christians attended church and that Judaism was also present, but under a dark spotlight. 

Similarly, Donald, a character in The Rich Brother, also valued faith and religion very highly. “Donald had become a Christian. He drifted from church to church, then joined a Pentecostal community that met somewhere in the Mission District” (73). Donald later moved to a farm to feel a closer sense of community centered around a higher belief. “The farm was owned by several members of Donald’s community, who’d bought it with the idea of forming a family of faith” (74). Donald valued religion because it gave him a sense of belonging after both of his parents died and his connection to his brother Pete dwindled. Donald symbolizes most Americans in society today. In the United States, many look for a community and place to share their belief in a higher faith. America values religion and even though not all theologies are thought of as equal, it is a societal value that people are connected to one and can be exemplified through the readings from this quarter.