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Examples Of Carelessness In The Great Gatsby

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‘The Great Gatsby presents the notion that carelessness is responsible for the damage that occurs in the novel.’ Discuss. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is set on Long Island and follows a narrator who is attempting to find his way amongst an unfamiliar and damaging crowd. The carelessness that plagues the upper class shines through the use of money to evade the consequences of immorality and disloyalty. However, Fitzgerald presents that carelessness is not the only notion that is damaging society, but the obsession with the American Dream which clouds characters’ judgement. Fitzgerald relays to the reader that having copious amounts of wealth and status leads people to become careless. Individuals' vulgar …show more content…

The self-made Jay Gatsby urges himself to take every opportunity he gets, whether they are immoral or illegal, to maintain the appearance of an individual coming from old money with the inheritance of class and elegance. Gatsby imitates this selective society, craving his final possession of the American dream, in which every decision chosen is to strive closer to his goal for his own personal benefit. Therefore Gatsby “pick[s] his words with care” in an effort to not slip up on his complicated lie. Fitzgerald also uses Myrtle as a way to convey to the audience the greed and immorality of individuals that arise in the pursuit of the American dream . Myrtle, similar to Gatsby, idolises the lavish lifestyle of the upper class due to this, using Tom to her advantage in order to have access to materials she wouldn't have been able to afford without his generosity – him attempting to buy her pleasure within the relationship – “Here’s your money. Go buy 10 more dogs with it”. Although these characters had the American dream to an extent, they never could quite grasp “the green light” and allowed the thought of a [better life] to dictate their ethics, telling the dream to take control and lead them to their deaths as they were willing to sacrifice everything for an …show more content…

Fitzgerald represents Jay Gatsby as a ruthless character that neglects and disrespects his moral compass so that he can create a rift between Daisy and Tom, despite the couples existing marital problems in which “neither of them can stand the person they’re married to” as they aren't fulfilling each other needs and both have their own personal issues. As Daisy holds onto the old Gatsby that “looked at her the way all women want to be looked at by a man” the relationship that's based on love instead of convenience in order for Daisy to pursue a future with Gatsby she risks her old money title and elegance that eludes it. While Tom spares no effort to suppress all allegations of his current affair with Myrtle “I thought everyone knew”. It is quite visible that there are strains pressed on the two which can result in severe impacts on their influence within society though neither makes an attempt to salvage their societal position ultimately giving up the American dream for lack of

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In Fitzgerald’s work, The Great Gatsby, the character Jay Gatsby shows many struggles and hardships as he seeks to gain power over others. As Jay’s motives become more controlling, the intended theme of the book of achieving the American dream, is overshadowed by greed and human lust. In the novel, Jay Gatsby, a manipulative and wealthy man, longs for his old lover, Daisy Buchannan. However, conflict arises when it is found out that Daisy is engaged to another man.

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she Therefore, she wishes to buy a dog, simply to show that Tom’s money allows her to and has no intention of actually caring for it. Therefore, Tom and Myrtle’s relationship is sustained shared desire to flaunt their wealth and display a lack of compassion. Whether it be Gatsby’s futile collection of books, Daisy’s tears over expensive clothing, or Tom’s assertion that Myrtle buy ten dogs, Fitzgerald’s representation of the 1920s in The Great Gatsby is an excellent example of the material excess and underlying corruption in the Gilded Age.

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518 Words | 3 Pages

Scott Fitzgerald depicts the theme of “wealth can breed carelessness” using point of view. In the text, Nick describes the truth about Tom and Daisy, “I couldn 't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…” (191) At the end of the story, Nick views Tom and Daisy as careless people. This example depicts “wealth can breed carelessness” by Nick’s perspective because the most critical things that Tom and Daisy had done in this story was ruined other people 's lives, such as leading Myrtle, Gatsby, and George to their deaths, showing no remorse for their actions, and cared only about themselves and their

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516 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author uses many differnt retorical devices to add a personal flare to his work. He uses diction, symbolism, and irony to adress many different themes. These themes include Materialism, The American Dream, and includes a sharp and biting ridicule on American society in the 1920’s. The main point of Fitzgerald, arguement is one where he sharply criticizes the Society of the time.

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Everyone has fantasized about being rich and all the luxury that comes with it. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing of “The Great Gatsby” suggests how money ruins the lives of many. It ruins those who possess it and those who don’t. Fitzgerald explains through Myrtle Wilson, Jay Gatsby, and Daisy Buchanan that money and materialism causes us to lose sight of our values and what is truly important. Myrtle Wilson is very desperate to leave the Valley of Ashes.

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Erin Coulter Mrs. Valdez MYP English G3 14 May 2024 The luxurious roar of the 1920’s echoes with lavish sounds, but beneath the surface of “The Great Gatsby”, lies a world full of careless tragedy. Carelessness plays a huge role in “The Great Gatsby” through the wealthy class living in the moment, not thinking about the effects their actions will have on themselves and others. In “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott.

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The 1920s was a time in history that most people these days love and look at wishing they lived in that time. The Great Gatsby is a book based in the 1920s, or also known as the roaring 20s. This book is full of carelessness, people trying to earn money to impress people, and a guy that tries way too hard to get the girl. Throughout the 20s people didn’t worry or care about many things.

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The novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald narrates the story of Jay Gatsby through the eyes of an outsider named Nick Carraway. It follows as it shows the efforts of Jay Gatsby's attempts to try to gain his love again, Dasiy Buchanan. Along with his story, we get to see the small parts of the lives of others within the high society of New Long Island. At the novel's climax, events play out between Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom, Daisy’s husband, in which a confrontation plays out within the story as both men try to argue over Daisy and their beliefs on who is right. The conflict between Gatsby and Tom appears to be very tense and frustrating for both men, however, looking through the feminist lens illustrates a deeper meaning.

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When you are rich enough you can afford anything, even carelessness. You can afford to throw caution to the wind, and not think about the consequences of your actions. This is the subliminal theme to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, where luxury, and misery, and misfortune all have a common factor of carelessness. I also believe that carelessness is not the only perpetrator and is also followed closely by selfishness throughout the story. Jay Gatsby devotes the last years of his life to obtaining Daisy Buchanan, his former lover.

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1363 Words | 6 Pages

’”(Fitzgerald 109). Gatsby's delusional mind has built Daisy up and put her on a pedestal. He thinks that if he can get Daisy, he as new money, he will be accepted into the Old money, East Egg, society. Gatsby invests in his illusions of the American dream, and thus discovers its projected goodness in the frauds of its crippled world. Similarly to Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson uses her not-so-secret romance with Tom Buchanan as a means of upping her level of class.

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995 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald characterizes the 1920s as an era of decayed social and moral values. One of the major themes explored in this novel is the Hollowness of the Upper Class. The entire book revolves around money including power and little love. Coincidentally the three main characters of the novel belong to the upper class and throughout the novel Fitzgerald shows how this characters have become corrupted and have lost their morality due to excess money and success and this has led them to change their perspective towards other people and they have been portrayed as short-sighted to what is important in life. First of all, we have the main character of this novel, Gatsby who won’t stop at nothing to become rich overnight in illegal dealings with mobsters such as Wolfsheim in order to conquer Daisy’s heart.”

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915 Words | 4 Pages

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel that tells the story of love affairs, the american dream, and the battle between old money versus new money. The main problem of the novel is the fight for Daisy’s heart. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, and their love is fading away. Tom is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson, while later on Daisy is having an affair also with Jay Gatsby. The Buchanans come from old money, while Gatsby comes from new money.

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1909 Words | 8 Pages

An important theme in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is the corruption of morals because of wealth. It doesn’t matter if one comes from old or new money, wealth will corrupt the morality of even the humblest. The first example of wealth corrupting morals is in the indifference to infidelity between the married Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson. The next example of wealth corrupting morals is seen in Jordan Baker’s actions to keep her luxurious lifestyle. Third, Jim Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth lead to the corruption of his morals.

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1218 Words | 5 Pages

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis “They were careless people…” says Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby. In a story depicting the 1920s during a time of prosperity, growth, and the emergence of the America as a major global power, this statement may seem to be contrary. But in reality, Nick Carraway’s description of his friends and the people he knew, was not only true, but is an indication of those who were striving for the American dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is foolish, the people who pursue it are immoral and reckless, and this pursuit is futile. First, F. Scott Fitzgerald proposes that the American dream is foolish.

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1373 Words | 6 Pages

While on the surface, Gatsby does have a ‘rags-to-riches’ story, it is not a virtuous one; he amasses his wealth through illegal channels by working with Meyer Wolfsheim, and never fulfills his dream, Daisy. Also, He changes his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby when he first encounters Dan Cody. Because Gatsby has to take on an entirely different persona to achieve success, disguising his poor upbringing and suggesting that James Gatz could never achieve the American dream. Gatsby first attempts to earn his financial success by performing menial labor for Cody, but when Cody’s ex-wife swindles Gatsby out of his inheritance, he turns to illegal means of getting rich. Not only does Gatsby illegally gain his wealth my selling grain liquor over the counter, but he also does so under the direction of Meyer Wolfsheim, breaking two essential qualities of the self-made man, virtue, and independence.

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