Money.
Hanaka Barefoot
April 21st, 2015
Literature
Mr. Pangier
In The Great Gatsby written by F.Scott Fitzgerald represents a corrupt American society which the characters are strongly
influenced by money. Money is portrayed throughout the whole book and can be used in many different ways such as representing wealth, power and the obligation of nobility.
It was common for Americans to judge people based on how much money and wealth they had. Affluent societies were more looked upon and Fitzgerald discusses the advantages you can have for being wealthy. In the story, due to his high possession, Tom held privileges to commit crimes, had love affairs, false stories were told, entitled to do as he pleased, all for his prosperity. Expensive cars were also associated with the possession to have great wealth, which is likely that Gatsby purchased his rich yellow car to impress others. This conveys to great materialism. “It’s pretty isn’t it, old sport?” He jumped off to give me a better view. “Haven’t you ever seen it before?” I’d seen it. Everybody has seen it. It was a rich cream color, brought with nickel, swollen here and there in it’s monstrous length with triumphant hat boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes…(68).” Fitzgerald included Nick looking at Gatsby’s car in an inspiring way, which indicates how wealthy Gatsby can be, simply from owning an automobile.
Money dominated relationships, everything revolved around riches. The more luxurious goods you had, the more likely your love ones are going to choose you. He or she that has money, had power. Gatsby devoted his internal being for Daisy, and climbed his social classes to the top, to gain her one and only love. "Her voice is full of money," he said suddenly. That was it. I'd never understood before. It was full of money – that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it… high in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl (7.99).” The relationship between Daisy and Tom was simple, Tom was relatively wealthy and Daisy had attractions to his power which stimulates down to his money. Gatsby full of romanticism, he comes down to a realisation that he must win Daisy over, through money which leads him to his downfall. Money wouldn’t be necessary if it was “True Love,” because of the corrupt American society, it’s unlikely for a female to choose the poor over the rich. Gatsby idolizes Daisy, and the power to obtain his wishes is achievable by being wealthy.
In the present American society, the rank of someone is more flexible as it was in the Great Gatsby. Though there are some Republicans that may disagree with this, the general moral is to treat everyone as an equal being. Fitzgerald shows us that money has great power, even over yourself. “People who have no money dream of money, people who has money wants to be powerful.” In the big picture, this quote shows us how humans always crave for something that they don’t have. If you ask a starving child what his “well of wealth” is, it would be money, and not health, or intellect, or relationships. However, once having money gives one a brand new perspective on how to live, and how to become powerful. Because of this, the world is divided by rank, class, and nobilities.
The image of money has its repetition throughout the book which becomes a central development. But really, what is money? Money is a symbol, a well representation of health, intellect, relationships, and power. You would imagine how far money could take you, but some of the “wealthiest” men in the world could be one of the unhappiest. Much like everything in the world, it is a double sided sword that can also has a dark side. Money can lead to the craving of power, selfishness, and corruption of yourself, and others.
April 21st, 2015
Literature
Mr. Pangier
In The Great Gatsby written by F.Scott Fitzgerald represents a corrupt American society which the characters are strongly
influenced by money. Money is portrayed throughout the whole book and can be used in many different ways such as representing wealth, power and the obligation of nobility.
It was common for Americans to judge people based on how much money and wealth they had. Affluent societies were more looked upon and Fitzgerald discusses the advantages you can have for being wealthy. In the story, due to his high possession, Tom held privileges to commit crimes, had love affairs, false stories were told, entitled to do as he pleased, all for his prosperity. Expensive cars were also associated with the possession to have great wealth, which is likely that Gatsby purchased his rich yellow car to impress others. This conveys to great materialism. “It’s pretty isn’t it, old sport?” He jumped off to give me a better view. “Haven’t you ever seen it before?” I’d seen it. Everybody has seen it. It was a rich cream color, brought with nickel, swollen here and there in it’s monstrous length with triumphant hat boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes…(68).” Fitzgerald included Nick looking at Gatsby’s car in an inspiring way, which indicates how wealthy Gatsby can be, simply from owning an automobile.
Money dominated relationships, everything revolved around riches. The more luxurious goods you had, the more likely your love ones are going to choose you. He or she that has money, had power. Gatsby devoted his internal being for Daisy, and climbed his social classes to the top, to gain her one and only love. "Her voice is full of money," he said suddenly. That was it. I'd never understood before. It was full of money – that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it… high in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl (7.99).” The relationship between Daisy and Tom was simple, Tom was relatively wealthy and Daisy had attractions to his power which stimulates down to his money. Gatsby full of romanticism, he comes down to a realisation that he must win Daisy over, through money which leads him to his downfall. Money wouldn’t be necessary if it was “True Love,” because of the corrupt American society, it’s unlikely for a female to choose the poor over the rich. Gatsby idolizes Daisy, and the power to obtain his wishes is achievable by being wealthy.
In the present American society, the rank of someone is more flexible as it was in the Great Gatsby. Though there are some Republicans that may disagree with this, the general moral is to treat everyone as an equal being. Fitzgerald shows us that money has great power, even over yourself. “People who have no money dream of money, people who has money wants to be powerful.” In the big picture, this quote shows us how humans always crave for something that they don’t have. If you ask a starving child what his “well of wealth” is, it would be money, and not health, or intellect, or relationships. However, once having money gives one a brand new perspective on how to live, and how to become powerful. Because of this, the world is divided by rank, class, and nobilities.
The image of money has its repetition throughout the book which becomes a central development. But really, what is money? Money is a symbol, a well representation of health, intellect, relationships, and power. You would imagine how far money could take you, but some of the “wealthiest” men in the world could be one of the unhappiest. Much like everything in the world, it is a double sided sword that can also has a dark side. Money can lead to the craving of power, selfishness, and corruption of yourself, and others.
Work Cited
Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print. (Whole Book)
"The Great Gatsby." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby/canalysis.html>.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print. (Whole Book)
"The Great Gatsby." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby/canalysis.html>.