Literary Analysis Essay On The Great Gatsby

741 Words2 Pages

Gatsby Literary Analysis In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald utilized money as a symbol of success. This shown constantly throughout the novel to represent how money has great power and limitations over people. Nevertheless, Fitzgerald also displays how the gain of money or material wealth is not a worthwhile goal. In the novel, there is the protagonist, Gatsby. He is a famously known, wealthy young gentleman that lives in a huge mansion. Every Saturday night Gatsby throws lavish parties while his guest all think he throws the parties just to have the company. However, we soon figure out that he is waiting for someone to come in to his lavish party. In the first chapter, The story begins with the narrator, Nick Carraway. …show more content…

For example, Myrtle only truly desires Tom due to the amount of money he has. Also, her husband doesn't notice the affair is happening due to the fact that he sees Tom a good man due to his wealth and power. However, Wilson who is poor is treated with much disrespect due to the blunt fact that he is poor and he wouldn’t even be on the same level as Tom, even if he tried. His wife Myrtle would even go as far to say things like, “..he wasn't fit to lick my shoe”(). Also, Fitzgerald finds that love overall is never perfect and it is impossible to have anything close to perfection in a relationship like this. This contrast between the two men is so obvious that Tom can basically have anything he desires just because he is wealthy. He can commit a crime, have an affair, even cover up mischievous things just because of his wealth. Nick explains Tom’s carelessness in this quote: “smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” (). This quote gives us a clear example of how he has affected those around him, while also shows the amount of drama he has caused and the amount of power and money

Open Document