In Greek Mythology, Midas, a powerful and wealthy king, believed that gold was the key to achieve happiness. He shared his extravagant life with his only daughter, whom he loved very dearly. He was granted one wish and he wished for his touch to turn things to gold. The next day, Midas touches a table and sure enough it turns into gold. His daughter rushes in and overjoyed, he hugs her turning her into a statue of gold. Midas’ greed and love for money causes him to lose the one he loves the most. Greed causes unhappiness; in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby and Naguib Mahfouz’s novel Midaq Alley people who are greedy end up unhappy.
If one is greedy, they will not lead a happy life. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby,
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In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Gatsby wanted to change and recreate himself for love. He loved Daisy so much that he was willing to change himself for her. He recognized that Daisy was looking for someone who was wealthy and powerful, however, he does not understand that no matter what he will never be good enough for Daisy. Drunk with naivety, he still sets out to change himself and hope to recreate the past. Gatsby wanted “…nothing less of Daisy that that she should go to Tom and say: “I never loved you.” After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures be taken. One of them was that, after she was free, they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house – just as if it were five years ago.” (109) Gatsby believes Daisy will still love him after he changes for her, and that he can repeat the past. What he does not realize is that once, Daisy did love Tom, and that he cannot alter the past to make himself happy. Similarly, Hamida believes she needs to change for Faraj to love her. Hamida’s naivety blinds her and she does not see what Faraj molds her into. He uses her body to create a profit and give Hamida the wealth and power she wanted. Naguib Mahfouz writes, “She wondered whether any of them would recognize her if they were to see her now. Would they see Hamida underneath Titi? Why should she care anyway? After all, she had no father or mother of her own.” (261) She believes Faraj changes her for the better and that he truly loves her. After Hamida thinks she’s happy with wealth and power, she decides she wants more. When she first becomes a prostitute, and she believes that Faraj loves her, she is in a state of perfect bliss because her life contains love, power, and wealth. She does not realize that Faraj lies to her about his love toward her. She wants to believe he truly does love her, so she can live