Bang! Bang! Those could be the last sounds you ever hear if you were too obsessed with money. All of the people in the Great Gatsby love money and it turns out that the money betrays them. In F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby it proves that no matter how much you have money can't buy true happiness. First, all the people in The Great Gatsby thought that the money they had could bring them the true happiness they wanted. Tom Buchanan was the worst of all though. He always thought his money could get them out of any problem. He shows this when he says, "And what's more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time"(Fitzgerald 140). …show more content…
Tom’s wealth made it so almost anything he interacted with became twisted. Like here when he interacts with Daisy “Before I could answer her eyes fastened with an awed expression on her little finger. "Look!" she complained. "I hurt it." We all looked – the knuckle was black and blue. "You did it, Tom," she said accusingly. "I know you didn't mean to, but you did do it. That's what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen”(Fitzgerald 15). This is the first time you really see what happens to everything around him. He tries to be nice, but even in kidding, he hurts those around him. He then also cheats on Daisy later with Myrtle and that corrupts both her and Wilson. Mr. Wilson was a good guy until Tom Buchanan was introduced to him and Tom ruined his life leading to the deaths of Gatsby and Mr. Wilson. He inadvertently killed Wilson just by being his horrible self and having his wealth and purposefully got Gatsby killed for his own actions. Anything introduced or compared to wealth within this novel is corrupted. Any true happiness they had was faint and distant due to the wealth that separated it from the people. You can see this with Wilson mainly here. “He had discovered that Myrtle had some sort of life apart from him in another world, and the shock had made him physically sick”(Fitzgerald 132). Wilson was happy with his wife and was living a good life …show more content…
Many different Authors have said this too “yet his fiction was never just thinly disguised autobiography”(Baughman 133). You can see through this that Fitzgerald was unsatisfied with what money had brought him and he didn't like the problems that came with it. Both the characters in the story and Fitzgerald himself had ended up worse off than when they started due to the money. Through this you can tell Fitzgerald had let his life seep into his stories and through them he showed how even he thought the wealth brought problems. Finally, The book The Great Gatsby was a great novel that could have many different themes and interpretations, but the theme of happiness and money is the one that sticks out the most as supported by obsesseion, corruption, superficial love or ideals of glamour. This is why In F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby it proves that no matter how much you have money can't buy true happiness. Next time you feel like buying something to make you happy instead of spending it on something more noble just think back to this
Gatsby and Greed In this day and age, money is a very important asset to have. One needs to have at least enough to live on, though great amounts are preferable. In The Great Gatsby, by Thomas F. Fitzgerald, having a large amount of money is not enough. It is also the way you acquire the money that matters.
As Matthew J. Bruccoli noted: “An essential aspect of the American-ness and the historicity of The Great Gatsby is that it is about money. The Land of Opportunity promised the chance for financial success.” (p. xi) The Great Gatsby is indeed about money, but it also explores its aftermath of greed. Fitzgerald detailed the corruption, deceit and illegality of life that soon pursued “the dream”. However, Fitzgerald entitles the reader to the freedom to decide whether or not the dream was ever free of corruption.
As you can see, Tom Buchanan is an important character in The Great Gatsby. His personality leads to many characters not trusting him or not liking him. Tom’s actions then leads to the deaths of several characters. Instead of taking ownership of the unjust deaths, he takes Daisy and together they leave. This shows the carelessness and selfishness that Fitzgerald tries to portray as the upper class of the
He thinks money can buy everything in the world, and that does not happen to be the case. He shows the hate he has towards Gatsby and calls him a nobody because he has “fake” wealth, "Self-control!" Repeated Tom incredulously. "I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife. Well, if that 's the idea you can count me out […] Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions, and next they 'll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white”(Fitzgerald 130). Tom basically says Gatsby is a no one and has not done anything to get his money. He also says Gatsby does not have enough money to “buy” off Daisy and shows an example of money buying happiness. Tom also uses his money to make him happy rather than Daisy, with Myrtle but Wilson, also there and Tom hates poor people like Wilson. He makes Tom mad which does not equate to happiness of Tom and therefore coming to the conclusion of money cannot indeed buy
First, both Fitzgerald and Gatsby were not truly happy with their wealth and the fulfillment of their dreams. “Fitzgerald’s Great Neck years were not the happiest time of his life, though he seemed, like Gatsby to be sitting on top of the world” (“Fitzgerald: The Authority of Failure” 288). Fitzgerald had a lot of money, yet he eventually discovered that his happiness was hollow. Like Fitzgerald at the peak of his wealth and fame, Gatsby was not happy once he achieved his goal of winning back Daisy. “As I went over to say good-by I saw that the expression of bewilderment had come back into Gatsby’s face, as though a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his present happiness” (Fitzgerald 95). Gatsby tried to believe he was truly happy, just as Fitzgerald continued to desire wealth and fame. Unfortunately, Fitzgerald's excessive wealth led to his later sadness. “F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life is a tragic example of both sides of the American Dream - the joys of young love, wealth and success, and the tragedies associated with excess and failure” (Willett). Although Fitzgerald was happy in his youth, as he acquired and lost fame, he became a failure and ended up a tragic figure. Gatsby also overindulged in his wealth and desire for Daisy, and ended up a failure. “The sad lesson of
“Marry rich”, a famous quote used throughout the years, informing people that if all else fails depend on someone else who is successful and everything will work out. Within the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, characters; Daisy and Myrtle, practice this idea by both going after the rich and successful Tom Buchanan. Unsurprisingly both of these affairs result in failure, this is because both affairs are built upon the value of money, and success. With regard to money induced relationships, the novel Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald exceedingly demonstrates how money cannot cause someone to go against their morals. In the book the Great Gatsby characters become delusional to the meaning of true meaning of love. This is because
When society wishes for lavish things, corruption will soon follow. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald examines the desire for wealth, power, and success in New York. Society cares too much about appearances. Fitzgerald’s novel makes the reader aware of the unhappiness that could be experienced if all that matters relies on money. Fitzgerald emphasizes that because the American dream is determined by materialism, it ultimately corrupts the people who desire wealth.
A theme from Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, is that money cannot buy a person happiness. This theme applies to Gatsby himself. Gatsby spends his entire life trying to satisfy Daisy. He obtained an enormous amount of wealth and threw house parties for five straight years, hoping that Daisy will attend one of his parties. Daisy is married to Tom and has a child named Pammy. She falls in love with Gatsby but, she eventually stays with Tom. Gatsby has an obsession with Daisy that he cannot get over. Nick says that Gatsby, “He knew that Daisy was extraordinary, but he didn’t realize just how extraordinary a “nice” girl could be. She vanished into her rich house, in her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby—nothing” (149).
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald depicts the true embodiment of the rich. Being born into a wealthy family seems to be an extraordinarily lucky thing, considering the amount of people who are forced to struggle for things many take for granted. However, being rich and wealthy is not as great as it might seem. Having a fortune is often terrible for character. Those who are born in the lavish lifestyle of the wealthy often express their carelessness in the ways that they search for their own self-indulgences instead of searching for something worthwhile and meaningful.
Society has based various cultural aspects on money. Whether it be through obtaining an education, or what social class you are in, e have been categorized based on the money that we have to our name. Certain aspects make this a positive for communities but for many, it is a hindrance. Within the novel The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald uses his character personalities to elaborate on the idea that not all wealth is good wealth. Affluency in the novel “ The Great Gatsby ”, is the foundation of each character, and goes on to further establish what the author is trying to convey; Money can not truly buy happiness.
In the story The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald they think that money buys them everything .Soon they’ll find out that they are going to have it the hard way. Along with tough moment in which wealth won't be able to do anything about it. “ The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald illustrates how excessive desire for material wealth can really damage your reputation and the reputation of those around you.
When Gatsby admits his love for Daisy in front of Tom, Tom begins arguing for Daisy as if her love is his possession yelling, “But all the rest of that’s a Goddamned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now” (Fitzgerald 131). This portrays Tom’s notion that Daisy belongs to him and her love is something he has obtained. This highlights that money can destroy the idea of true love and leads to reckless assumptions. Furthermore, Tom allows himself to engage with other women while still claiming love for Daisy. By stating, “And what’s more, I love Daisy too. Once and awhile I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time” he is showing the utmost disregard for Daisy’s love for him (Fitzgerald 131). This is significant because it shows how Tom’s wealth has created the perception that Daisy is a prop he can utilize as he chooses . This also demonstrates the carless naure of the upper class because Tom feels justified for running around with a mistress because he claims to still love
Most people believe that money doesn’t buy happiness or do something that makes you happy. In the time of the 1920’s money and material wealth are all anybody cared about. In his book The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates that in spite of this popular belief, money and material wealth won’t buy long-term happiness.
There is a famous saying that “money is the root of all evil,” however in the case of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, money is the root of all society. A Marxist analysis of The Great Gatsby reveals that society built their very foundation upon money. The power of wealth in the world of Gatsby is evident in the novel’s relationships, materialistic lifestyles, and the representation of the American Dream.
In "The Great Gatsby" money is one of the most important things in the world. In the beginning there was Daisy Buchanan who got to know a military man by the name of Jay Gatsby. These two spent a lot of time together and grew to love each other despite the fact that Gatsby was poor. However, there came a time when Gatsby had to go to war and left Daisy at home. He continued to write to her and asked her to wait for him until he returned. She agreed at first , but along came a rich man by the name of Tom Buchanan and began having relations with Daisy. She didn’t really love Tom but he had money and power so as any girl in the 1920’s would do she married him for his wealth. Her one true love was Gatsby but he was away and didn’t have any money so she wouldn’t marry him just out of love.