What Does The Bell Jar Mean In The Great Gatsby

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Money, money, money, money, money. People just care about the Benjamins, the moolah, the cash, the dough— but is it really essential to the human existence, or does society just accept the systematic oppression that comes with the dog-eat-dog nature of our economic system since it benefits the people on top? Monetary gains are all well and good; however, when does it commence to overtake our lives and when does it become our end goal? Instead of relying on money for food, shelter and our overall well-being, society views it as a tool that gives them power over other people, thus putting one’s economic status on a pedestal and making life a difficult competition. So yes, it is a dog-eat-dog world, but that’s not exactly a healthy perspective …show more content…

Scott Fitzgerald respectively) and applying both the Marxist and Psychoanalytic critical theories, it’s clear to see that the race to get to the highest crest of the metaphorical food chain affects the people on the top, on the bottom, and everyone in between, which causes a divide in society and consequently forces people to adopt the mindset of “get rich or die trying,” or else their lives will amount to nothing.

The bourgeoisie have it all, right? They’re not like the lower class, the proletariat if you will; they have the power to get what they need in life due to their privilege and funds. However, are they really fulfilled? Once they reach the top, what guarantees they’ll like what they find? Take Jay Gatsby for example: he’s the poster child for the American Dream. Rich, refined, and to the public, Gatsby is quite the dignified gentleman. Saint, however, he is not as evident by his deceptive nature. James Gatz was born into a poor family, but on his quest to achieve wealth he takes on the persona of the titular character. Eventually, he does acquire wealth, but with his growing affluence comes the

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