Examples Of Materialism In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, money and wealth is an important topic. Whether it be things money can or cannot buy, or the difference of wealth in East and West Egg, money and wealth are part of what makes the novel what it is. Money can determine where someone lives, what they drive, the type of house they live in, or what they wear. It is easy to tell when someone is incredibly rich or not. Some think that enough money can guarantee you anything in life you desire. In some instances, this might be true. Although, most of the time, it is not. The Great Gatsby shows examples of old money, new money, and also describes what Fitzgerald is trying to say about materialism in a detailed manner. First of all, old money is a form of wealth that portrays class in the novel. The people living in

F. Scott Fitzgerald captures the meaning of materialism perfectly in The Great Gatsby. During his life, the only thing that drove Gatsby to do anything was knowing he had the chance to be with Daisy. Everything he did and purchased were all used for the same goal, which was to be with Daisy. He bought a huge house that had a library of books that he did not even read, a Rolls-Royce, and very nice clothes. "No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart"(96). Materialism is described as considering material possessions and physical comfort is more important than anything else. Therefore, materialism could be a main topic of the book because it is almost entirely about it. "At first I thought it was another party, a wild rout that had resolved itself into "hide-and-go-seek" or sardines-in-the-box" with all the house thrown open to the game"(81). Being materialistic has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes, what you have can get anything. Other times, it is just ignored. This is a clear example by Gatsby in The Great