The Role Of Wealth In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts two characters, Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, who are both fabulously wealthy but have contrasting personalities. The novel takes place during the 1920’s, a time of opulence and excess. However, within this group comprised of people of wealth, there are several different echelons. On Long Island there is a vast body of water that acts as a separation between the different levels of the rich, West Egg which is steeped in old money and extreme wealth and East Egg which is home to those with newly acquired wealth. Tom and Gatsby possess both wealth and privilege. However, they have gained their wealth through different means, present their wealth to the world differently and use their wealth for different purposes. In the novel The Great Gatsby, we are presented with two very wealthy characters, Tom Buchanan and Gatsby, who have different incentives for accumulating their wealth.
The opulence of Tom’s mansion is a reflection of the value he places on personal wealth and how he presents his wealth. Tom’s house is described to be a “cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay” (Fitzgerald 6). Outside of this extravagant house Tom is depicted to be in “riding clothes…standing with his

legs apart on the front porch” (Fitzgerald 6). F. Scott Fitzgerald creates this image that portrays Tom as someone who is flaunting his wealth and possessions. It is crucial to notice that F. Scott Fitzgerald knowingly placed Tom outside of house. This is a reflection of Tom’s mindset that he can get anything he wants because he has been wealthy since the day he was born and has the decadent house behind him to demonstrate this. Tom’s stance suggests that he is a confident and dominant person. The fluidity and beautiful movements of Tom’s house are seen when Nick describes the lawn which “started at the beach and ran toward the front door for a quarter of a mile, jumping over sun-dials and brick walks and burning gardens” (Fitzgerald 6). Tom’s desire to travel is depicted in the movement and action of the lawn.
In contrast to F.

Scott Fitzgerald’s description of Tom’s house, Gatsby’s house is portrayed to be less dazzling and grand. Gatsby’s house is presented as a “factual imitation” which gives the reader a sense that the house is counterfeit and lacks originality (Fitzgerald 5). Directly contrasting to Tom’s prominent stance, Gatsby is suggested to be much less dominant as he is not included in the description of his house. Similarly, the people who attend Gatsby’s extravagant parties also do not know who their host is. They know his name and spend the night making conjectures as to how Gatsby became so wealthy. This characterization continues throughout the text as Gatsby is portrayed as an anxious, insecure

person.
Tom uses his wealth to accumulate possessions that will impress the world and will allow him to feel superior. He views personal relationships as trophies to flaunt, including his relationship with his wife, Daisy. Tom tells Gatsby “"She's not leaving me!”” and “not for a common swindler" (Fitzgerald 133). Instead of telling Daisy he loves her and proving to Gatsby that Daisy won’t leave him because she loves him, Tom tells Gatsby that Daisy will not leave him because Gatsby is a fraud. Tom’s materialistic outlook prevents him from viewing what is typically a very intimate relationship with his own spouse as just another business proposition. Though Gatsby truly loves Daisy, Tom will not allow another to take one of his most prized possessions from him, even if Daisy desires Gatsby too, guarding her like he guards his house.
Fitzgerald makes it clear to the reader that Gatsby’s motive for becoming rich and throwing lavish parties is purely to entice Daisy. Gatsby feels below her in the social hierarchy and therefore becomes a social climber acquiring loads of money along the way. Gatsby acquires his wealth through dealings in illegal businesses, unlike Tom who was born into a very wealthy family. Gatsby’s insecurity is apparent before he sees Daisy for the first time in years, he becomes very anxious and runs away. He believes it was a “terrible mistake” to invite her over and continuously utters the word “terrible” (Fitzgerald 87 ). Later that night, as Gatsby takes Daisy around his house “he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes” (Fitzgerald 91). Gatsby’s only incentive for acquiring money is purely to impress Daisy, which differs from the ways Tom uses his money which is to show dominance.
While both Tom and Gatsby differ in their incentives for accumulating wealth, they both possess large amounts of money. Gatsby is involved in illegal businesses and continues to gain money in hope of winning over Daisy. Tom was born into his money and uses his money to acquire materialistic things and to maintain his lavish lifestyle. Though their incentives for acquiring wealth are different, both Tom and Gatsby’s actions embody those of a capitalist culture.