Great Gatsby Corruption

529 Words2 Pages

The Great Gatsby is set during the Jazz Age of the 1920's. This era was a time of partying, drinking, and enjoying life. The Jazz Age of prosperity encouraged many to become rich and a part of the upper class. For many people, this dream remained unachievable unless they were born into wealthy families. Although some people accomplished their desired rise to the top, they still were lacking true happiness. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby demonstrates the corruption of the American Dream through the unquenchable desire for wealth.
Throughout the novel, wealth is a factor that propels the decisions and actions of the characters. Jay Gatsby's American Dream is to marry Daisy Buchanan, the "golden girl". Gatsby uses the glitz of money and power to make Daisy, who is married to Tom, fall in love with him. While Daisy is looking around his house, Nick notices Gatsby "hadn't once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes"(91). Gatsby came from humble beginnings and worked hard ...

Open Document