"The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" may be a fun fantasy story, but
it's also a major critique of American history and American
values. One of the early tip-offs is Percy's explanation that
his family descends from George Washington and Lord Baltimore –
two men who were integral in the founding and expansion of our
country. The story of Fitz-Norman Washington, Percy's
grandfather, quickly becomes a parallel for the expansion of the
U.S. into the west. Fitz-Norman set out after the Civil War to
seek his fortune; when he found that fortune, he exploited the
country's natural resources for his own material gain and then
safeguarded that secret through the manipulation and pain of
others. The slaves are a key example here. Fitz-Norman took
advantage of them by convincing them that the South won the
civil war and that slavery was still legal. He then convinced
them his giant diamond was a rhinestone mine, and kept all the
profits for himself. Fitzgerald makes the point that material
success has its costs – and that t