Corruption In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Worth of an American Classic
Americans today tend to maintain a firm belief that one's dreams are achieved only through hard work and dedication. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel known as The Great Gatsby contradicts this normalized belief in today’s society. Fitzgeralds' beliefs are embedded throughout his book which is still applicable to the modern day. In fact, the appreciation of the novel’s content has led to several schools requiring it as a classic story that students must read. Juniors at Buena High School should be required to read The Great Gatsby because of the significant theme of corruption that generates critical discussions in the classroom, how it comments on the idea of the American Dream, and how it allows the reader

Fitzgerald explores the instrumental theme of corruption in the story. In the novel, Gatsby’s desire for monetary wealth is accomplished through any means possible. Source 1 praises the novel’s ability to capture the essence of the corruption of wealth. In particular, Douglas focuses on the powerful couple of Tom and Daisy Buchanan being untouchable for their wealth. The idea that those that are rich will not face consequences for their actions is highlighted in the novel, which captures the essence of criminal corruption. The wealthy couple can create anguish to anyone who is more underprivileged than they are because the couple has a sense of suffering no consequences because they maintain the position that money can overcome any problem that comes their way. Source 2 also mentions the novel’s theme of money obsession corrupting those in the aristocracy. This theme is critical for the students of Buena High School

Source 5 explains just that, talking about how overrated and impertinent the novel is with no connection to present-day times. With its irrelevant nature, there would be no reason to have this book fill the classrooms because it provides no real learning experience for the students. However, these claims are completely untrue. The characters and ideas weaved throughout the pages of The Great Gatsby can be as applicable to current day as our imagination permits. In Source 1, Donahue writes of the relevancy of the novel. Readers could interpret the character of Nick to be a man that is completely in love with Gatsby or that Daisy was not meant to be a character who purposefully crushes the heart of Gatsby. Some readers might suggest that Daisy was simply forced into the role that society established at the time for a beautiful young woman, marrying into rich society. These few of many different potential character interpretations allow students in the classroom to fully engage with the novel like never before. Students’ interpretations of events or characters are just as valid, even if not directly intended by Fitzgerald. The ability for students to fully immerse themselves into dialogues that analyze the impact of novel’s story elements and implications to real-life scenarios takes engagement to an entirely new level, as seen in Source