Examples Of Wealth In The Great Gatsby

Wealth is the average picture of the good life. Many in this world stride to become wealthy and live a luxurious life. Being wealthy determines a certain lifestyle considering the way you live and even where you live. If you were to look up wealth in a dictionary it would say wealth is an abundance of money. Gatsby the main character of the book The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald just so happens to be living the wealthy lifestyle. In the book it shows many different types of lifestyles during this era. Another character that goes by the name Tom Buchanon lives on a large property. They describe his home as “more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion…” (Fitzgerald 6). Which at this time is rare to own. His house is large and elegant he had a large inheritance of money that he used for the “look” of his family. Then to see the other side of the world there was a place called the “valley of ashes” that has no wealth at all this is where Wilson and Myrtle lived. It was explained as “....a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys….” (Fitzgerald 23). This is how Fitzgerald describes the poor side of town. The valley of ashes is the dirty and poor industrial zone back then. There were many ties between the different groups back then of West Egg and East Egg.

Everyone wants wealth. Everyone wants money. Everyone wants to get somewhere in life. However, what people don’t think about is how they change as a person when always in the demand for wealth. In the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the demand for acquiring wealth corrupts the morals of people, shown through the indirect characterization of Daisy and her wanting to be with Gatsby, the indirect characterization of Gatsby and how he went from being poor to rich, and the color symbolism of the yellow car, symbolizing wealth and corruption. The main theme explored in The Great Gatsby is wealth, especially involving the newly rich.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, a rich fellow, led a lavish lifestyle that completely contradicts Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist’s, “The Gospel of Wealth”. Carnegie stated that surplus wealth should not be wasted away on material possessions or mindless charity but instead should be spent on enhancing the community as a whole. Unfortunately, Jay Gatsby believed the complete opposite. He assumed that success in life revolved around ruthlessly accommodating money and frivolously spending it through elaborate parties and tailored clothing. Daisy even sobs over Gatsby’s shirts.

Gatsby creates an unrealistic illusion, with his love for Daisy. He believes that he can ‘win her back’ and his life will change from how it was when he and Daisy were together. This later ended in disappointment. “I can’t help what’s past.” She began to sob helplessly”

“Wealth and poverty; one is the parent of luxury and indolence, and the other of meanness and viciousness, and both of discontent” (Plato). Wealth inequality has been an issue for hundreds of years, from the time of the philosopher Plato in 375 B.C, to Fitzgerald in 1925, and one that is currently globally distressing. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, exhibits the challenges that come along with wealth inequality through the contrasting settings, character actions, and the idea that the achievement of wealth is often unfulfilling. The Great Gatsby effectively uses contrasting settings to depict wealth inequality. Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, describes the impoverished area just outside of New York as, “This

As novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his book, “The Great Gatsby”, writes about the escapades of the ridiculously wealthy in the twenties. And about how our innate obsession only leaves us empty inside. Fitzgerald’s purpose, is to portray wealth in a negative light. Because money cannot buy everything in life. Money can purchase material goods, but not happiness.

Ashes, Ashes They All Fall Down Leonardo Dicaprio claims that “[He’s] always been fascinated with wealth in America. To [him], it’s been about the American Dream and the corruption of that dream.” F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby tells of a group of careless adults ranging from various social classes longing to live their lives to the fullest through their dreams of, or physical amounts of wealth. But, as they should have known, trying to make it with the big dogs is like trying to sneak past the bouncer of a private club.

The obsession with wealth is one of the main topics that is touched throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book The Great Gatsby.

In society today, money and wealth are things that many people search for, but some wonder what these tangible things actually do for us. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the reader is able to obtain an understanding of the role money plays in society. Throughout the novel, it is shown that money and wealth can lead to temporary joy and happiness, but will eventually lead a person to destruction and failure.

"Greed, as distinguished from honest reward for labor, leads to corruption. To fatten oneself on it is to be compromised."(Lathbury 64). Several characters in The Great Gatsby struggle with their obsessions with wealth. Their lives depend upon their money and what it can do for them. These obsessions lead to greed, and to the corruption of relationships and lives. In F. Scott Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby, the obsession with wealth leads to issues for many characters.

After going through the “Great War,” also known as World War I, soldiers came back home in the middle of prohibition, a time where the almost all recreational alcohol was illegal. Despite the government's intentions to protect the people from alcohol abuse, prohibition forced people to find unorthodox ways of attaining alcohol. Prohibition unofficially made people rich because so people made lots and lots of money making and selling alcohol illegally–bootlegging. This is the setting for the famous novel, The Great Gatsby. In this book, F. Scott Fitzgerald exemplifies the true corrupting nature of wealth and shows just how powerful the desire for money can be through the corruption of the American dream, Gatsby’s dream, and the main characters.

The reason behind our education and careers is wealth. Most people want to be some big shot athlete or an actor that makes a lot of money. Wealth is usually depicted through houses and cars. The Rolls-Royce at Gatsby’s party helps distinguish his class, which happens to be high end due to his wealth. In addition to the Royce, Tom’s coupe is pictured as part of the elite class.

When reading The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby shows how on the outside a person could have everything in the world and be rich, but on the inside they have nothing. Throughout the book, The Great Gatsby different levels of wealth are portrayed in all characters, whether it be through parties, fancy cars, or clothes. For example Gatsby has spent most of his life designing his well known money empire that he has greatly relied on. This affects him in the future when he meets his long lost love Daisy.

The American dream has evolved beyond an established monetary goal, into a hunger for something greater than what we already own. This type of ambition results in a never-ending cycle of pursuit, creating a greater disparity between the rich and the poor man’s vision, status, and wealth. Fitzgerald’s argument in the “Great Gatsby” aids in explaining why and how the American Dream has become more and more distant for the middle and lower class to achieve. Similarly, interviewees believed that the American Dream has become harder for the general public to achieve, while those born into wealth and power can easily reach and or surpass the American Dream. Although the idea of the American Dream did not materialize completely during Fitzgerald’s life, the protestant’s work ethic, a precursor to the Dream existed and Fitzgerald was able to predict the deterioration of the American Dream happening presently.

"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone . . . just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had". (Fitzgerald,1.) In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it is impossible for those with poor backgrounds to be accepted by people from the opposite side of the social scale and achieve the American Dream. The main character Gatsby has worked hard and climb the ladder to richness, but he can never truly be like those who live in the East Egg, even though Gatsby worked hard to earn all the wealth he acquired he still isn't accepted by the East Egg society, due to the way he gained all his wealth .