The Great Gatsby

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The thought of having an immense sum of money or wealth bring certain people to believe that money can buy almost anything, even happiness, however in reality, it will only lead to lost and false hope. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald writes a story about a man named Gatsby who is a victim of this so called 'false hope' and 'lost.' Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald clearly demonstrates and elaborates on the relationship between having money, wealth, and one's ethics or integrity by acknowledging the idea that the amount of money or wealth one has attained does affect the relationship between one's wealth and one's ethics whether or not in a pleasant manner. Although money and wealth may not be able to buy a person happiness, it surely can buy a person's mind and action given that a wealthy person has a great deal of power. Fitzgerald analyzes the notion that even though many people dream of being both rich and ethical, it is not possible, and therefore, being poor and ethical is much better than trying to be rich and ethical. As presented in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald suggests that the relationship between having money or wealth and one's ethics or integrity is that in order to gain one's ethics, a person needs to have money or be wealthy. In the novel, the author shows his audience how the protagonist of the story, Jay Gatsby, acts as if money will allow him to acquire honor and morality. Fitzgerald states how Gatsby was able to convince Nick, the narrator, to invite Daisy over for tea by not only offering to have someone cut his grass, but offering him a part in the illegal money making business even though he rejected the offer on the spot (87-88). This shows how Gatsby is trying to gain Nick'... ... middle of paper ... ...ites about not only the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy but also about the affair between Tom and Myrtle. Tom and Myrtle's affair shows how the amount of money one has does not change the way they may act or feel for another person. Throughout the novel, the author also explains how the wealthy or rich people are able to get away with bad behavior or unethical practices because they have the power to do so. During the time after World War I, the people who had money were the people who had power. Fitzgerald offers his audience the proof through his story that there is only a slight possibility that a person can be both wealthy and ethical. He shows his audience how sometimes being poor is not always the worse thing and that it is easier to be poor and ethical rather than being rich and ethical. Works Cited "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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