The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Recommended: Tasks on social class and wealth in the Great Gatsby

The Quote, “All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual”, by Einstein fully illustrates the meaning in the work, The Great Gatsby; each character contrarily portrays characteristics accordingly to its wealth and social status. While character such as Tom and Daisy is bemused and reckless in the world of wealth, other characters such as Nick and Wilson live a submissive and cautious life style within a lower class. Even so, both juxtaposing groups experience similar joys and tragedies within their social class. Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby signifies the influence of wealth and social status during the 1920’s American society on characters through plots, dialogs, and setting. Jay Gatsby, as the protagonist of the novel, is one the few characters that is affiliated with the lower class. In Gatsby’s childhood, he suffers through poverty. Paradoxically, Gatsby is the most prestigious when compared to other characters, yet he was the only character to lack wealth in the past. With this, Fitzgerald proves that the current status of wealth justifies the current acceptance of a character. After attaining wealth, Gatsby remains distinguished from other wealthy characters due to the fact he once lived a life of destitution. Unlike Tom and Daisy, who live an empty life, Gatsby lives a life replete with motivation. Even though Gatsby was presented as one of the corrupted characters, he was considered prolific because he had a dream. This is achieved because Gatsby once experienced a low class life, unlike Tom and Daisy who grew up with prosperity. While wealth and social status may appear to be widely accepted as the most wanted symbols in the early twentieth centur... ... middle of paper ... ...rtain areas. Although nick is not considered a low status, Tom is still higher in status. Take for instance, when Nick insists he wants to leave during their trip to New York, Tom arrogantly forces Nick to stay, “No, you don’t” (Fitzgerald 28). Nick has no choice but to agree to Tom’s suggestion because he is higher in terms of social status. Both Nick and Wilson’s lower class shapes their personality as a submissive and cautious characters. Within the text The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald analyzes the importance of wealth within the early twentieth century in America, which allows the reader to understand the perspectives of different social status. Moreover, he proves the importance of wealth through presenting characters that are influenced by social status. Concurrently, Fitzgerald identifies how a person’s social status shapes one’s personality and motives.

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