The OG Top G: Gatsby, Tate, and The American Dream

In the shadow of capitalism, the construct of masculinity has been invariably molded by ideals of dominance, aggression, and material success, creating archetypical models of what it means to be a man in given eras. These archetypes, fostered by the socio-economic ethos of their times, mirror the prevailing narratives of power, prosperity, and the means by which these are achieved. In exploring the intricate dance between masculinity and capitalism, Jay Gatsby and Andrew Tate emerge as emblematic figures — each a caricature of his era’s ideal man, shaped by the economic climates and societal expectations of their respective times.

Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, epitomizes the American Dream’s promise of self-made wealth and upward mobility during the Roaring Twenties. His pursuit of wealth, achieved through dubious means, and his quest for social ascendance, driven by an unrequited love, are efforts to conform to the masculine ideal of his time — a demonstration of worth through material success and societal acknowledgment. Yet, Gatsby’s tragic narrative uncovers the hollow core of these pursuits, revealing the dissonance between the capitalist-driven ideal of masculinity and the unattainable reality of genuine human connection and fulfillment.