This is displayed when Tom Buchanan gets annoyed with Myrtle Wilson at the hotel and, “broke her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald 41). After Myrtle mentioned Tom’s wife, Daisy, although Tom told her not to, Tom used his brute strength to inflict damage on Myrtle. Not only that, but Myrtle, being dependent on Tom and the freedom that his money brings, chooses to stay with him although he abused her. Women being portrayed as inferior is also shown when Nick attends the Buchanan's luncheon, and Daisy points out Tom’s knuckle, “‘Look!’ she complained.
The 1920s was a tough decade people spending money on useless items that only satisfy them for a second and then get back to being depressed. Spending money is like a drug it only last for a certain amount of time then you crave for more and more until you drop. That's why money doesn't buy happiness all it does is put more stress in your life. For example, in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a man named Gatsby didn't win Daisy's heart and he worked for years for his money but Daisy wanted someone else with money so Gatsby didn't achieve his American Dream. The Great Gatsby showcases that money cannot buy happiness through Gatsby’s parties, his love for Daisy, and his funeral.
The American Dream Doesn’t Equal Happiness If the phrase “money can’t buy happiness” was written into a full story, that story would be The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby is written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and has countless examples of the phrase “money can’t buy happiness” suggesting that the American dream and loads of money doesn’t suddenly make your life perfect and all your problems are gone, in fact, the story suggests the complete opposite. In the story, F. Scott Fitzgerald shows that every character who has money or character that is around the people that have money end up in more trouble and having more problems than the average person.
It has long been said that money can’t buy happiness, but still people continue to use it’s acquisition to try to make themselves happy. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the title character struggles with this realization. The book is set in New York during the ‘Roaring 20’s’, a time famous for its parties and lavishness. The book examines the attitudes toward money within the upper particularly through the lense of the new-money title character, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby dedicated his life to the acquisition of money with the goal of eventually acquiring the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan.
In Chapter 2, Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose after she teases him mentioning “Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!”. Fitzgerald writes this to show a cruel side of privilege as his loyalty to Daisy is mocked by the woman he is cheating on her with. The repetitions of “Daisy” is set as a reminder that Tom is cheating, and no repercussions are presented when Myrtle’s nose is broken showing that Tom has a physical and socially acceptable power over women due to his higher status and wealth.
When Gatsby and Daisy danced Fitzgerald explains, ‘’I remember being surprised by his graceful,conservative fox trot’’(fitzgerald 105). This is important because of how Daisy and Gatsby first met because of the way they were together before he went to go fight in the war. Then, after he went to war, Tom gets married Daisy only because of his money, which is very wrong of Tom and Daisy. Some people go through hard times and,‘’if the most basic needs are not met emotional contentment cannot be achieved’’(Sheppard). The idea of money does make people happier to a certain extent.
This is evident in his treatment of his wife Daisy, whom he sees as a trophy to be displayed to others. Tom’s possessiveness and need for control are also evident in his treatment of Myrtle Wilson, whom he keeps as a mistress in a dingy apartment in the city. When Tom discovers Daisy’s affair with Gatsby he reacts with anger and vengefulness, seeking revenge by confronting Gatsby and ultimately causing his death. In chapter two of the novel it says, “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” (Fitzgerald 37).
Money is wonderful and can buy anything the mind can fathom, however, one thing money cannot buy is happiness. In the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald we can see this idea portrayed as well through the character of Jay Gatsby. Gatsby has all the riches he could ever want, or need and yet he is still not happy. He does not have any real friends because he has tried to buy happiness by trying to be something he is not, and throwing lavish parties all the time. If money bought happiness Gatsby would be the happiest man in the world, but he isn’t.
In the Great Gatsby money keeps the relationships together despite massive problems. The characters think that money will lead them to happiness. Not in this case money led a women to get a get married to an unfaithful man or a women to cheat on husband with another man. In this time it was wrong for women to divorce their husband and it didn’t help that the woman in the book was catholic in the religion it is wrong to divorce.
What is more valuable, love or money? In the novel the ¨The Great Gatsby¨ written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there is old and new money, Gatsby who is the main character in the novel comes from the side of new money. Gatsby finds out that his money can buy: a beautiful home, nice cars, friends, however; his wealth cannot buy the one thing that he wants most. Fitzgerald is conveying that money cannot buy certain things. Gatsby's rise and fall throughout the novel show that money isn't what makes a person happy.
Scott Fitzgerald explores the relationship between wealth and happiness through the lives of its characters. Set in the roaring twenties, the story focuses on the life of Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties to win back Daisy Buchanan. Despite his wealth and luxurious lifestyle, Gatsby is unable to find true happiness, as his love for Daisy is unattainable. However, this seems to be a case of overambition and materialism on the part of Gatsby as Tom and Daisy are able to live quite a happy life. While Tom and Daisy were unfaithful and had affairs with Myrtle and Gatsby respectively, their wealth allowed them to put the past behind them and take luxurious trips while not having the stress of working a job.
In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby’s constant pursuit of wealth had a major role in his happiness. Gatsby’s true sadness stemmed from his constant pursuit of money and wealth which caused him to be alone, fail to bring back the woman he loved, and not share the same status with other wealthy individuals. Despite Gatsby’s wealth, he isn’t happy or satisfied with himself without Daisy. Despite Gatsby having a lot of money and wealth he still feels alone.
An early display of Tom’s violence is when he is arguing with Myrtle about whether or not she has the right to say Daisy’s name. When Myrtle refuses to comply with Tom’s request, “making a short, deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand”(20). The scene in which this event takes place is in the beginning of the story and is probably meant to represent a typical day in Tom’s life. This shows Tom’s willingness to use violence over an issue as small as Myrtle saying a name. Furthermore, this violence is used by Tom to control Myrtle’s actions.
One insight from this story that is completely relevant to today’s society is that people see wealth as automatic happiness. Gatsby is wealthy beyond belief but hardly ever has true happiness. Tom is the same way and lets his life revolve around wealth. In today’s society people necessitate wealth more than anything else. When a kid is asked what they want to be when they grow up the answer is often “whatever I can make the most money in”.
Every individual runs towards a dream, towards a goal, a chance to achieve true happiness. A happiness which differs for every person, based on who they are, their values and background. Nevertheless, happiness is something that gives satisfaction and completion to someone’s life, something that factors such as money cannot give, no matter what we think. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald criticizes the constraints thrusted upon women as dictated by the society stereotypes in the 1920s, and shows how internalizing and adhering to societal values, imprisons the individual and strips them of the qualities that allows them to attain the happiness that they desire.
