Examples Of Materialism In The Great Gatsby

At a first glance, The Great Gatsby, seems like it is just a story of the wealthy people who lives the desired, dream life. However, if one reads carefully between the lines, they would encounter the colossal amount of symbols and messages dispersed throughout this one novel. One of the main messages the author gives out is the criticism of materialism. Myrtle, the wife of poor mechanic struggles to escape from her miserable life and Gatsby, struggles while he is eager for regain his lover who has married another man. They are both examples of people who has been corrupted by this idea and chooses to adopt the new, perfect figure that they desire to be. F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his novel, The Great Gatsby, uses clothing to demonstrate how materialism

When Myrtle, Tom, and Nick get to Myrtle’s apartment, the readers can see her change as Nick explains, “Mrs. Wilson had changed her costume some time before, and was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream-colored chiffon … . With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change” (Fitzgerald 30). When a neighbor compliments Myrtle’s frock, Myrtle “rejected the compliment by raising her eyebrow in disdain. ‘It’s just a crazy old thing … . I just slip it on sometimes when I don’t care what I look like’” (Fitzgerald 31). Despite being the wife of an unsuccessful mechanic and a mistress, Myrtle pretends to be from the upper class with the assistance of her fancy dress. This shows her materialistic belief that happiness is owning large quantities of belongings; causing her to put up a facade of a wealthy lady while dissembling her actual self. In this moment, Fitzgerald is reflecting the common belief of Americans in the 1920’s as well as describing to the readers that people adorn themselves physically and mentally to change their feelings and the impressions they give

As Daisy marries Tom, even though she loved Gatsby, the readers see how Daisy chose the wealth Tom owned over her feeling towards Gatsby. When Gatsby sees Daisy for the first time in five years, Gatsby arrives in “a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie” (Fitzgerald 84). The colors gold and silver are often associated with money and success. Likewise, white makes people appear pure and innocent. By dressing himself in such colors, Gatsby, who has gained his wealth through criminal activities, sets himself up to look wealthy and righteous. This is because he thinks Daisy, whose “commodity aesthetic filters race and class through the conventionally gendered lens of consumerism” (Goldsmith 1), could only be won by showing his prosperity. Therefore, the readers can infer Gatsby is attempting to attract her by attiring himself in such clothing. Fitzgerald shows how Gatsby is driven to adopt a perfect disguise instead of letting his true self pursue his