Money and Corruption in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

732 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: social class distinction in the great gatsby

The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald shows how money help corrupt people’s lives but Nick Caraway tries to help people take a different route and see life from a different perspective. The Great Gatsby was set in the in the 1920s when it was a theatrical and radical change. During these times, more Americans survived in cities than on farms and more people gained wealth. However individuals became nonchalant about the change while others became very aggressive which caused more problems than festivity in the 1920s.Fitzgerald characterizes Nick as a naïve person living in the roaring twenties as can be seen through his attitude which results in Nick being taking advantage and people using his happiness of optimism . This reveals how people during the 1920 social classes started to combine but the wealth helped them separate farther and have a naïve aspect towards others.
Fitzgerald characterizes Nick as naive when nick is describing perks of his home in west egg instead of the flaws of his home. Nick comments that “I lived at West Egg, the – well, the least fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them. My house was at the very tip of the egg, only fifty yards from the Sound, and squeezed between two huge places that rented for twelve or fifteen thousand a season. The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard … My own house was an eyesore, but it was a small eyesore, and it had been overlooked, so I had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbor's lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionaires—all for eighty dollars a month.” These lines show nick as naïve because he never gave exact downfalls of his living sit...

... middle of paper ...

...ch people's corruptions just don't seem to count as much as poor people's crimes. Which is why the Buchanan family got to flee in peace. Nick references the Buchanan’s as “careless people” at Gatsby funeral because he never judged them at the beginning to actually get a personality trait of the Buchanan’s.
To conclude Nick Caraway has what many of the other characters lack personal reliability and his intelligence of being non-judgmental uplift him above the others. He alone is rejected by the deceiving society Nick was the only moved by Gatsby's death when the others vanished, Nick, unable to believe that none of Gatsby's associates will even pay their last respects, picks up the pieces and ensures Gatsby isn't alone in his death. Through the course of The Great Gatsby Nick develops, from a man visualizing of a fortune, to a man who knows that wealth brings gloom.

Show More
Related

  • Money and Corruption in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

    1745 Words  | 4 Pages

    Money and Corruption in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby During the time in our country's history called the roaring twenties, society had a new obsession, money. Just shortly after the great depression, people's focus now fell on wealth and success in the economic realm. Many Americans would stop at nothing to become rich and money was the new factor in separation of classes within society. Wealth was a direct reflection of how successful a person really was and now became what many people strived to be, to be rich. Wealth became the new stable in the "American dream" that people yearned and chased after all their lives.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Analysis

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    While detailing his past experiences to validate his reliability, Nick claimed that his family members “have been prominent, well-to-do people in this middle-western town for three generations” (3), implying that he hails from the “old rich” whose wealth is established.... ... middle of paper ... ... Nick’s willingness to follow Gatsby’s lies and deceit is exemplified by his arrangement of the “tea party” between Gatsby and Daisy.

    Read More

  • Money And Social Power In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

    1566 Words  | 4 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin once said “Money has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness." This is arguably one of the most cliché quotes of all time. If money cannot provide happiness, then what exactly can it do? The characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan open a door to a world in which money was the sole motivation for their success and the only reason for their power. When the reader uses a Marxist critical lens during chapter four of F. Scott 's Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby, the social hierarchy reveals how Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan utilize the importance of money and social power to manipulate others in their lives.

    Read More

  • Nick's Evolving Perceptions of Gatsby in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the book Nick sees Gatsby as a mysterious shady man. In the beginning of the chapter Nick somewhat resents Gatsby. In Nick’s opinion Gatsby was the representation of “…everything for which I have unaffected scorn.” (Fitzgerald 2). Nick sees Gatsby as what he hates the most in life, rich folk. Since the start of the novel it was obvious that had “Disapproved of him from beginning to end.” (Fitzgerald 154). As time passes, Nick realizes his neighbor has quite a mysterious past. Some think he’s a bootlegger, and a different person wa...

    Read More

  • A Classic Novel of a Corrupt American Dream, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fitzgerald definitely proves his point through Gatsby who plays the prime example of deteriorated morals. Displaying the useless merriment and unfathomable desire to possess money and fame; Gatsby hopelessly shows his fortune off due to his unrequited affection from Daisy Buchanan. Nick Carraway, an insightful friend as well a narrator, guides you through the lives of the filthy rich and starts off admitting that “whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had.” (Fitzgerald 1) thus allowing the reader to keep this quote in mind throughout the novel. Moving from the Midwest, Nick arrives to New York City to be welcomed for dinner at his cousin, Daisy's house, where the reader comes to know of Nick's neighbor Gatsby, and Daisy, the love of Gatsby's life, herself. Nick learns about the backstabbing ways of people who've inherited riches such as Tom, Daisy's deceitful husband, who seems to also have a mistress. Nick also steadily increases his curiosity towards his lavish neighbor. As the novel proceeds, the readers come to know of the love story left unfinished betwe...

    Read More

  • The Power of Money in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

    1775 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ex-President Jimmy Carter knows both the power and the limitations of money. He is also aware that the acquisition of money or material wealth is not a worthwhile goal. This was made clear in his speech to the American people when he stated:  "Our great cities and our mighty buildings will avail us not if we lack spiritual strength to subdue mere objects to the higher purposes of humanity" (Harnsberger 14). In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, the author clearly illustrates that Jay Gatsby does not understand the limitations of the power of money. Gatsby believes that money can recreate the past, buy him happiness, and allow him to climb the social ladder in the prominent East Egg.

    Read More

  • Greed in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

    479 Words  | 1 Pages

    Gatsby and Greed In this day and age, money is a very important asset to have. One needs to have at least enough to live on, though great amounts are preferable. In The Great Gatsby, by Thomas F. Fitzgerald, having a large amount of money is not enough. It is also the way you acquire the money that matters.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Nick In The Great Gatsby

    1949 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Great Gatsby was one of many creative stories F. Scott Fitzgerald successfully wrote during his era. The 1920’s brought new things to Fitzgerald and his newly wedded wife, but once all the fame and glamour ended so did they. Fitzgerald’s life eventually came crashing down in depression and misery following the 1920’s, and he would never be the same. Fitzgerald became very vulnerable to this era and could not control himself, which came back to haunt him. Fitzgerald wrote the book in first person limited, and used Nick as his narrator to explain the dramatic story which revolved around the life of Jay Gatsby. Nick told of the roaring 1920’s, and how the wealthy people of New York lived and prospered, just like Fitzgerald. Drinking, partying,

    Read More

  • Examples Of Indirect Characterization In The Great Gatsby

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Though the story is told from Nick’s point of view, the reader gets many perspectives of Gatsby from different characters. One can see from characters like Jordan Baker -Nick’s girlfriend through the majority of the novel, or Tom- the husband of Nick’s cousin Daisy; that Gatsby is not as good as everyone where to think. Based on how these characters act and feel about Mr. Gatsby it is evident that they dislike him to some extent, showing a bit more of a flawed human side of him. Tom is quoted saying “I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong.” about Gatsby depicting Tom’s harsh feelings towards him and showing the reader Tom’s negative feelings about Gatsby. Because the story is told from Nick’s point of view, Gatsby is still painted as this mysterious man because Nick is a bit curious of him and does not know Gatsby in the beginning. ‘"They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together."’ Nick says to Gatsby, showing that he thinks he is worth more than Daisy, Tom, or the other characters. With this quote one can infer that Nick holds Gatsby on a bit of a high platform than the other characters, giving the reader Nick’s indirect characterization of

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby American Dream Analysis

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ells him that he’s “worth the whole damn bunch,” meaning the rich of East Egg, “put together” (Fitzgerald 162). Nick says this because, even though Gatsby’s story is tainted by criminal activity, he is far more admirable than people like Tom and Daisy. That it’s not wealth or a life of leisure that makes a man great, it is his determination and devotion to both his dreams and the people he cares that makes him great. Money does not bring a person happiness, as seen by both Tom and Daisy, who are unhappy and bored with life. Not only does wealth not make one happy, it also causes a person to be very careless when it comes to the feelings of others. This all shows the disillusionment of the American Dream through Gatsby who tries for that which is very materialistic and doesn’t bring any true happiness while ignoring the qualities that prove the real worth of a person.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis In The Great Gatsby

    547 Words  | 2 Pages

    The paragraph starts with a description of his liking for New York, using lucid examples of why he does, such as “the satisfaction that the constant flicker of men and women...gives to the restless eye” (Fitzgerald 56). He goes on to picture himself picking up women from Fifth Avenue, becoming involved romantically, fantasizing about being welcomed into their homes. There is a shift in tone, however, after this fantasy, wherein Nick expounds his isolation: “I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes” (Fitzgerald 56). His heart sympathizes with the individuals having to work nights, in order to feed themselves, instead of seizing the moment and partaking in the pleasures the city has to offer. These vivid descriptions work to present Nick’s character and mental process, and are central to his development as

    Read More

  • The Rich and The Poor in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Great Gatsby”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the vast social difference between the old aristocrats, the new self-made rich and the poor. He vividly interprets the social stratification during the roaring twenties as each group has their own problems to deal with. Old Money, who have fortunes dating from the 19th century, have built up powerful and influential social connections, and tend to hide their wealth and superiority behind a veneer of civility. The New Money made their fortunes in the 1920s boom and therefore have no social connections and tend to overcompensate for this lack with lavish displays of wealth. As usual, the No Money gets overlooked by the struggle at the top, leaving them forgotten or ignored. Such is exemplified by Jay Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson and Tom Buchanan. Their ambitions distinctly represent their class in which Fitzgerald implies strongly about.

    Read More

  • Roaring Twenties And The Great Gatsby

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1920's was a time of great economic prosperity and many people became rich and wealthy. Some people inherited "old money" and some obtained "new money". However, there was the other side of prosperity and many people also suffered the nightmare of being poor. In the novel eThe Great Gatsbyf, Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a wealthy character who lives in a mansion. However, Nick Carraway, the protagonist of the novel and next door neighbour of Jay Gatsby, is an average man who does not have the fortunes that Gatsby has. He is gtoo poorh. Nick Carraway is part of the middle class in society while Gatsby is in the upper class of society.

    Read More

  • The Influence Of Money In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    The 1920’s were a time of economic indulgences. The stock market was in a period of wild growth and Americans were enjoying their newfound prosperity. America just came off a triumphant success in the First World War and the 1920’s and was the outlandish victory party. The New York Times said, “Gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession” of the 1920’s. The morality which the common citizen had previously upheld became corrupted, and the American Dream, which once meant making a living through integrity and hard work, became tainted, emphasizing the quick, not necessarily honest, acquisition of money and wasteful spending. The life, desires, and ultimate failure of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald deprecates

    Read More

  • Essay On Nick Carraway In The Great Gatsby

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the book, Nick's dependability is demonstrated as he recounts various information about himself. He is “inclined to reserve all judgments”(1), a trait that implies objectivity and therefore reliability as a narrator. However, he continues to say that this reservation of judgment has certain limits, especially recently in his life. These limits, apparently, do not apply to Gatsby, as evidenced in the next line. Nick says that only Gatsby “was exempt from [his] reaction”, even though Gatsby “represented everything for which [he has] an unaffected scorn”. He then continues to praise Gatsby's “heightened sensitivity to the promises of life”, and his “extraordinary gift of hope”(2). This beginning excerpt from the book in the first two pages sets the tone for the rest of the book and foreshadows the events that are going to happen. It is one of the most important sections of the book, as it lays out ...

    Read More

More about Money and Corruption in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Open Document