Consequences Of Wealth In The Great Gatsby

The Consequences of Having Great Wealth

“You can have all the money and power in the world but it can’t buy you happiness and it certainly can’t buy you love” (Anonymous). True happiness comes from the inside and cannot be bought. The concept that happiness can’t come from wealth is a prevalent theme in Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. In The Great Gatsby, Nick Caraway narrates his life in a world filled with rich social gatherings, corruption and love affairs. He comes across a millionaire named Jay Gatsby who unsuccessfully tries to achieve want he wants in his life through his wealth. The pursuit of achieving excessive wealth has numerous consequences such as carelessness, egocentricity, and loneliness. Fitzgerald exposes the repercussions

His egoism is showed in many ways throughout the novel. One example is his views on white supremacy. Don’t only does Tom view himself as superior but he sees himself as a protector for white people when he says “it’s up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things”. He looks down at other people who aren’t him and he uses his wealth and status to justify his actions. He feels entitled and superior because of his wealth. Another example of Toms selfish behavior is when Tom tells Gatsby there is no way Daisy will leave him, “certainly not for a common swindler who would have to steal the ring he put on her finger” (280). This is just another example of how Tom is so self-centered, believing money is most important because it can buy you love. He sees his own marriage as an economic exchange and has no care to what Daisy thinks. Due to Tom’s abundant amount of wealth, he has become very selfish and narcissistic

Each character in the Great Gatsby embodies their own consequence of attaining great wealth. Their materialistic views still corrupt their lives and dreams. Nearly a century after publication the famous novel lives on to be a classic. The struggle between ethical values and desire for prosperity is still prevalent in today’s society. Nowadays social position is of less importance than back in the 1920 but still fame and wealth continue to be of much importance to