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Examples Of Privilege In The Great Gatsby

1093 Words5 Pages

Rosealynn B. Hernandez
Mrs. Centorame
ENG4U1
19 April 2023
Step Back to See the Bigger Picture Wealth, status and privilege are multifaceted societal constructs that habitually contrast human expectations. As fairly moral beings, humans prefer the idea of the treatment they receive being impartial, however, the reality is that different people possess different ranges of privilege. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick Carraway is a benefactor of the extra privileges afforded to people of the aristocratic class. He is a man who decides to pursue a future that is independent from the inherited riches his ancestors passed onto family. As a result of his new desire for independence, he begins his journey towards both West …show more content…

Consequences are necessary in society to deter people from committing consequential actions, hence the existence of laws. On the other hand, despite the law existing for everyone, the selective group of people who are spared from the justice system do so by reinforcing the existence of their superior power in society. For example, Nick Carraway witnesses his aristocratic cousin, Daisy avoids any punishment for a grievous crime she commits, and should face a punishment for. With the help of her husband Tom, they both use their power to shift the blame onto an innocent bystander. After witnessing their self-servient actions, Nick finally says “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness”(Fitzgerald 182). With his statement, Nick evokes an infuriated tone that could only come with uncovering people of his class who abuse their power, in order to yield more benefits for themselves. Unlike the bourgeoisie class, the aristocrats are still provided a chance in the world where they can work less but still be given more opportunities without facing any judgement; ultimately proving that equal opportunity is either limited or unrestricted by one’s overall status in society. Fortunately, an element of human life that is not always restricted by class are …show more content…

Overall, being friends motivates any person to notice a problem and deeply understand how it affects their friend or anybody. In particular, Nick Carraway befriends his outgoing and extravagant neighbour Mr Gatsby despite their gap in class. Nonetheless, Nick knew his friend to be a generally good man who did not deserve the end he received; it was an end that was facilitated by the outrageous amount of power given to the upper class. During his call with his love interest, their change in priorities and morals causes Nick Carraway to say “I don't know which of us hung up with a sharp click, but I know I didn't care”(Fitzgerald 157). Getting to know Gatsby has a heavy effect on Nick after Gatsby dies, regardless of their distinct classes. This importance was not an idea shared by the person who called him, therefore, Nick chooses to stand by his friend who deserves to be remembered instead of proceeding a call with an aristocratic woman who unjustly equated Mr. Gatsby worth with his

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