Conscience In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Is conscience a more powerful motivator than money, fame, or power?

The love of material things is considered the root of all evil. Money, as well as desire for fame and power, are powerful motivators that drive people through certain shortcuts called decisions. Every day, people drive through this shortcuts, big and small.

Understanding how people arrive at their choices is a field of cognitive psychology. Theories have been tested to explain how people get influenced while making decisions in the present and future. Heuristics1 have been researched to understand the decision making process.

The powerful inner voice that urges one to do the right thing might not be mighty enough to deflect people from their natural desire for self-advancement.

In a perfect flawless world people would allow their conscience to draw them away from potentially devastating actions. However this is not the case in many situations. The actions of Daisy Buchanan in the Great Gatsby, the teapot dome scandals during Hardings presidency and experiences of daily life show that the influence of one's conscience often crumbles in the face of the attractiveness of money, fame, and power.
In The Great Gatsby, a novel by Escott Fitzgerald, Daisy Buchanan rejects the idea of doing the right thing because of the desire to maintain her status.

When Daisy accidentally runs over Myrtle Wilson she does not take responsibilities for her actions.

Instead, in order to preserve her reputation and fame, Daisy allows Gatsby to say that it was his fault. Daisy is inevitably distressed because of her fault in Myrtle's death, but her desire to maintain her money and social standing overrule the cries of her

conscience.

The Teapot Dome scandal that took place during William Harding's presidency also displace how money and power can cloud people's judgement to make them ignore their conscience.
Albert B. Fall, Harding's Secretary of the interior engaged in fraud in which he stole government massive sums of money and costs harding his reelection. Although Fall knew his actions were corrupt and in direct opposition to the good of the nation, the enticing call of money pushed him to commit fraud, showing how the pulls of one's conscience often does not overcome the attractiveness of power.
Experiences in daily life depict the allure of money, fame, and power as well.

There are many instances of insider trading that have taken place in the U.S. stock exchange. The Federal Reserve and The Federal Government have clearly stated that insider trading undermines the law and is illegal, but individuals insider trade anyway.

Politicians many times have been found guilty of corruption. They use unethical techniques to get higher positions in an election, to gain more money, votes or to lay hands on ungotten wealth. Corruption exists in the police force, in law and order and even in the management of the Olympic Games.

People's conscience speak that their actions are immoral, but the call of money and power can blind people from the righteous act to pursue.

Literature, history, and experiences in daily life all illustrate the unfortunate reality that money, fame and power have more control than people’s consciences. Even though most people realize that some of their actions are wrong, the glistening thought of self-advancement can cloud judgement and silence the whisper of the conscience. Money fame and power only provide temporary satisfaction, more than likely, bring more pain than

happiness.

Society believes that certain conscience exists. Jimminy Cricket plays the role of Pinocchio's conscience, on the unforgettable Disney Movie. He follows Blue Fairy's advice that says how a conscience ought to be "Lord High Keeper of the knowledge of right and wrong, counselor in moments of temptation, and guide along the straight and narrow path."
A clean conscience or a paycheck? Choosing moral over the desire of money might seem hardly possible for many people, but as hard as it sounds it is not impossible.
William Ellery Channing once said "It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great"
There already exist large numbers of human beings whose lives are no longer dominated by the love of money, and who are realizing that there are higher objectives to aim for.
Money, fame and power are momentary and insubstantial, for they can never reform the integrity sacrificed to obtain them. It is only when people act in the right way that their talents, ideas and morals can be put to use.
Leaving aside someone's wealth, fame, or power, if he canʼt state that he has done more good then bad, then he will hardly ever feel a true sense of happiness or fulfillment. A clear conscience is the only way for any person to get the most out of their life because Jimminy Cricket has more powerful and influential techniques than superficial aspects of life.
He used to tell Pinocchio every time "Go ahead, make a fool of yourself, then maybe you'll listen to your conscience." Sometimes people prefer to ignore this nagging voice inside our heads, instead of facing the disappointment of a foolish decision. But society needs to realize that each time you refuse to follow temptation, next time it'll be much easier. So just be a good boy and follow Jimminy Cricket’s advice.