Materialism In The Great Gatsby Analysis

“The American dream is achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, not by chance. Both native-born Americans and American immigrants pursue and can achieve the American dream” (Investopedia 2014). This deceiving passage sends hopeful words to the population of the United States as if pursuing the dream can give anyone a contented life from hard work, as their stepping stones to success. In the 1920’s the corruption of the American Dream is incorporated in most of the characters in the novel, The Great Gatsby (1925), by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it portrays where dreams are driven by wealth, power, betrayal and shame to moral values. After World War I, commercial growth climaxed resulting the boasted financial gain to most civilians that

We 're convinced that we can buy our way to happiness, that wealth is the path to permanent fulfilment and well-being. ” (2012). Fitzgerald incorporates materialism as part of the American Dream through Jay Gatsby’s lifestyle. For example, the hope that Gatsby liberates is brought only from wealth. Gatsby is known for his extravagant parties, to void the feeling of emptiness he focuses on his possessions which gives him power of confidence and satisfaction to obtain Daisy’s acceptance. When an individual is detached from the real world they are no longer capable of making proper decisions. In addition, Nick Carraway is fond of Gatsby’s lavishing automobile that attracts others attention. The cars he acquires is significant to Gatsby’s lifestyle. He is unaware of the customs what the old money stands for. Tom mocks Gatsby’s car in front of Daisy, “I 'll take you in this circus wagon” (Fitzgerald 128). This passage shows how the old money does not have to exploit what they have, because they are established with inheritance and it is the source of their wealth which will never fall short. Gatsby in the other hand is ignorant of the situation and continues to use materialism to find happiness. In Healthy Living state, “Money can’t buy love, and we’d do well to remember that money can’t buy happiness” (Gregoire 2013). This issue connects with the characters in the novel. Daisy married for money even if she is miserable, and instead of love she is more fond of lifestyle and devoted herself to wealth. Strangely enough, Daisy Buchanan treats her child as an object instead of an infant by describing her as, “the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful fool” (Fitzgerald 21). Daisy does not value her child, nor see herself as a role