Examples Of Materialism In The Great Gatsby

The American Dream In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the elaborate story of a man, Jay Gatsby, and how he is reunited with his love after five years as he is trying to achieve the American dream. The American dream is the dream of wealth, love, and success. Some people view the American dream as the ultimate achievement but even success and money can’t make people happy forever. Fitzgerald's message is that the American dream may seem appealing; however, the reality is that the dream is based on materialism, corrupted, and impossible.
Fitzgerald demonstrates the idea of materialism in the characters of the story along with all the wealth, fancy mansions, and extravagant parties. In the novel, the character Daisy Buchanan is seen

. . Everybody thinks so—the most advanced people. And I know. I’ve been everywhere and seen everything and done everything . . . Sophisticated—God, I’m sophisticated!” This shows how prideful she is and self-centered talking about herself. She says that she is sophisticated because of her materialistic mindset of showing off what she already knows and her many experiences. Her lack of thought regarding others, reveals that she chooses materialistic things over meaningful relationships with others. However, she married Tom Buchanan for his wealth although he cheats. “Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart, I love her all the time.” (Fitzgerald 131) Since she is a materialistic person, even the feeling of love can’t make her choose it compared to all the money, cars, and expensive lifestyle. Even Nick says, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then

The quote, “tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...And one fine morning” This emphasizes the idea that people will continue to reach for this dream no matter how long or what it takes. Fitzgerald’s message is that you can’t reach the ultimate goal of being happy, being wealthy, being in love, and having a bright future. It just simply isn’t attainable. This is simply because money can’t buy someone's love. For example, Gatsby is a wealthy gentleman but Daisy chooses Tom over him because She didn’t want to wait for Gatsby to get back despite loving him more. “She wanted her life shaped now, immediately—and the decision must be made by some force—of love, of money, of unquestionable practicality—that was close at hand.”( Fitzgerald 151) Another example is how no matter what you already have or get, it will never be enough to make the American dream out of reach. The fact that all the characters in the novel have aspects of the American dream but can never attain it and be fully happy with what they