Corruption In The Great Gatsby

Jay Gatsby, formerly James Gatz, is a charming, handsome man from the Midwest who successfully pursued his American Dream of becoming gaudy rich. As a young boy, he was a dreamer who was determined and more than willing to work hard in order for his colossal dream to come true. Once Gatsby gains his newfound wealth, he turns to a much more lavish lifestyle including a beautiful mansion on the water, extravagant parties, flashy clothing, an enormous swimming pool, and a cream-colored Rolls Royce. However, along with his immense wealth came immense corruption. Gatsby transforms from a young, poor farm boy into a dishonorable and reckless man once achieving his American Dream.

In order to achieve his American Dream, Gatsby participates in suspicious

activity. Even though the reader doesn't know this as a concrete fact until the end of the novel, the idea is prevalent throughout the course of the novel leading up to the reveal, which is that Gatsby is a bootlegger (Fitzgerald 133). The reader may first suspect that Gatsby may be involved in criminal activities when Meyer Wolfsheim, the man who rigged the World Series in 1919, is first introduced as one of Gatsby's good friends (Fitzgerald 69). It's a common thought that the people a man surrounds himself with are a good representation of that man himself; in Gatsby's case, this stands true. Prohibition was in full swing during the 1920s, so by being a bootlegger, or someone who transports alcohol illegally, Gatsby is displaying his corruption and immorality in regard to the 1920s widespread moral degradation.

Gatsby is known far and wide for hosting extravagant parties.

His parties include orchestras, multiple meals, an abundance of alcoholic beverages, and hundreds upon hundreds of people (Fitzgerald 39-41). During his parties, guests become intoxicated to the point of not knowing what's happening, yet Gatsby doesn't do anything about it and continues to have beverages brought in for every party. For example, while leaving the first party he attends, the story's narrator, Nick Carraway, sees a group of people who have driven their car into a ditch with no knowledge of what had happened (Fitzgerald 54). This is a prime example of Gatsby's recklessness. No suitable host would allow his guests to become tipsy then proceed to drive home, especially when that excessively drunk. Furthermore, we learn from a woman at Gatsby's party, Lucille, that she had once torn her dress while attending a previous party. She later received a brand-new dress from Gatsby valued at $265 (Fitzgerald 43). Although this may seem to be a gentile gesture, it is actually displaying his careless nature. He allows people to behave however they feel suit, whether that be getting incredibly drunk, ruining their clothes, or destroying his house, because he knows that he can fix whatever the issue is with his money. He can buy a woman a new dress or people a new car, or himself a new house. He's able to do this because of the gaudy lifestyle he lives. Gatsby's abundance of wealth has corrupted him and turned him

into a man who's careless about anything that happens.

In addition to his extravagant parties, Gatsby also displays his wealth through his flamboyant wardrobe and cream-colored Rolls Royce.

Throughout the course of the novel, Gatsby is described as wearing a variety of outlandish outfits. For instance, when reuniting with Daisy he wears a white suit with a silver shirt and gold tie (Fitzgerald 84). Additionally, once Gatsby and Daisy reassemble, he takes both her and Nick over to his house in order to show off his assets, explicating his need to be noticed and praised for his rags-to-riches story. After making their ways through the majority of his house, the trio stops at Gatsby's enormous walk-in closet. Daisy sobs at the beauty of his clothing, further proving his expensive, flashy style. Moreover, when Gatsby, Tom, Daisy, Nick, and Jordan go into the city for a day, Gatsby is said to be wearing a pink suit (Fitzgerald 122). By wearing flamboyant clothing, he is drawing attention to himself, which is exactly what he wants. Gatsby is "New Money" meaning that his wealth does not come from inheritance, something he desperately wants people to believe. However, the reader can easily conclude that this is not in fact true based on the way he behaves compared to Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Take the case of Tom often being described as wearing a black suit and loafers (Fitzgerald 26), an outfit often perceived as the epitome of a handsome, dignified man. In contrast, Gatsby never wears this style outfit because he wants people to know

that he is wealthy and is able to afford different types of clothing that aren't as plain and simple as a black suit. Gatsby needs others to acknowledge his success, which is something that the average person doesn't ask for. His abundance of wealth has caused him to become corrupted by what others think about him, especially his love interest, Daisy Buchanan. While showing Daisy around his mansion, Gatsby is only pleased when he knows that she is satisfied by what she is seeing. His constant need for approval and affirmations displays a corrupted self-image. Similarly, Gatsby's car draws attention to him as well. His cream-colored Rolls Royce with green leather seats is quite distinct, meaning that when people see it, they know that it's owner is Jay Gatsby due it's unique appearance (Fitzgerald 64). Gatsby enjoys the glory of being known, but even in today's world fame may come with a consequence, which, in Gatsby's case, is being pinpointed as the owner of the car that killed Myrtle Wilson.

Although Jay Gatsby is a handsome, eloquent, down-to-earth, midwestern man, he has still become corrupted by his immense wealth. Gatsby's immoral behavior, lavish parties, and costly, stunning possessions display his lack of restraint and carelessness for both himself and others. Gatsby's American dream has become corrupted causing him to have degrading morals much like the majority of Americans during the 1920s.