Role 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.

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.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, the idea of wealth is explored. Although Fitzgerald explores that America has been a country where one could obtain and enjoy fabulous wealth, ultimately he hopes to highlight the dangers of obsessing over wealth

"I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth" (Fitzgerald 7), as stated by Nick, shows that, in The Great Gatsby, class determines the value of a person’s identity. Even between the rich, those with old money are more respected than those with new money, since there is a history of wealth associated to those with old money. Wealth holds great priority in society, since it provides more opportunities. However, while it provides more opportunities, the characters in The Great Gatsby shows the negative aspects of money. In the book The Great Gatsby, it is seen that rich people are powerful,

During the time in our country's history called the roaring twenties, society had a new obsession, money. Just shortly after the great depression, people's focus now fell on wealth and success in the economic realm. Many Americans would stop at nothing to become rich and money was the new factor in separation of classes within society. Wealth was a direct reflection of how successful a person really was and now became what many people strived to be, to be rich. Wealth became the new stable in the "American dream" that people yearned and chased after all their lives. In the novel entitled the great Gatsby, the ideals of the so called American dream became skewed, as a result

Throughout the classic The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the rich and the poor are constantly juxtaposed against each other. The rich as ployed as being colorful and full of detail, while the poor is described as being "ashes" in a "desolate" landscape. This juxtaposition of the rich and poor makes it clear to the reader that Fitzgerald wanted the distinction to be blunt. Fitzgerald adds this distinction because he wants the reader to understand that the rich and the poor lead completely different lives. The rich are described in elaborate colors and detail because the they live lavish lifestyles. The rich own extravagant mansions, expensive cars and hydroplanes, and lead exciting lifestyles. On the contrary, the poor are described in

Shelby Pate Ms. L. Wijntjes ENGL1302.005 09 December 2014 The Importance of Wealth The Great Gatsby was based in the roaring twenties. It was written by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald and is a magnificent story of the complex happenings of the lives of Jay Gatsby and Nick Carroway, two men who become star ward friends as their lives entwine together.

In the novel, each location is characterized by the distinct origins of the wealth of their inhabitants. East Egg is based on familial wealth, and therefore harbours those who reflect and orient themselves to such values. It is home to Tom and Daisy Buchanan, who are not strangers to wealth and are accustomed to the lavish lifestyle that money offers. It reflects a high class society where the inhabitants are inherently wealthy, referred to as “old money”. We can see examples of this in the way that people conduct themselves, for instance, during the first party that Nick attends at the Buchanan residence.

"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.

Another reason that Gatsby is the richest character is that he is rich in things. For example he has a huge house with lavish rooms and furniture.

The Power of Wealth The well-known saying "health is wealth" gives a substantial understanding to our life as health was once viewed as the most valuable aspect for each person. In the life today, wealth is viewed as more significantly than health. What is wealth? Wealth is primarily the underlying difference that separates a person from their true self.

The roaring 20s are often referred to as one of the most affluent and successful times in American history. However, Fitzgerald portrays it as a time when the American Dream begins to rot and decay. Values are no longer the priority--only wealth and influence. This is proven as we see Gatsby pursue Daisy despite her being married. This is also apparent as Tom, and other wealthy citizens venture into the valley of ashes, and observe the poverty and depression. They do not care that people are suffering, they provide no aide and continue to throw gaudy extravagant parties. No longer had life's goal been to raise moral young adults to become successful, it was to become rich at all costs. Do you think that the increase in wealth symbolizes an

Wealth can develop a unique interpretation upon a person’s life and can impact their future. Wealth can be such a strong impact on someone that can determine whether they’re selfish or a given person. Wealth can definitely be overpowering and misleading, which could portray their true identity. In the historical fiction novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it shows us how misleading wealth can be in a person’s life.

The Great Gatsby shows the dehumanizing nature of wealth by creating a contrast between the rich and the poor. The point of this contrast is to illustrate the class struggle that was occurring in the country when Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. The comparison between rich and poor is first developed in the beginning of the book when Tom and Nick are driving to New York. Fitzgerald further elaborates on the gross differences between rich and poor when Gatsby manages to avoid a speeding ticket. Fitzgerald also uses popular songs from the time period, “Aint’t We Got Fun”, to build his case of the class struggle between the rich and the poor. Fitzgerald uses The Great Gatsby to try and illustrate the issues that were facing the poor

Gatsby cannot find a real, meaningful path in life after his rejection. Therefore– he becomes depressed, and in denial that his one goal is forever unattainable. Seeing these responses to the value of wealth over loving relationships proves how riches undeniably strip oneself of genuine inner values in things such as love and