Wealth is defined by a great quantity or store of money, valuable possessions, property, or other riches (dictionary.com). Many characters, in the novel, The Great Gatsby, displayed different forms of wealth. They each viewed and valued their wealth in distinct ways. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald intended to display a constant theme that wealth does not lead to true happiness.
Tom and Daisy were displayed as a vision of wealth in The Great Gatsby. Daisy grew up in an affluent family and wanted for nothing. She never knew of a different lifestyle. Daisy knew of large, fancy homes and enjoyed life’s finer pleasures. Daisy’s “rich life and her rich home is another factor that makes her desirable to a young man without a past” (Tate 94). Since Daisy had always been rich, she was viewed as more valuable to men. Looking in from the outside, you would think that Daisy’s life was perfect. She seemed to have everything she desired. Wealth did not equate to happiness. Daisy was given financial stability, rather than earning it. Happiness
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They sought out who would best fit their needs and their money before looking for who made them happy. “...Daisy marries and stays with Tom because of the lifestyle he can provide for her, Myrtle has her affair with Tom due to the privileged world it grants her access to, and Gatsby even lusts after Daisy as if she is a prize to be won” (Wulick). Money was a huge factor in the characters’ relationships, motivations, and outcomes. Most of the characters revealed themselves to be highly materialistic, and their motivations were driven by the desire for wealth. They felt privileged because of the money they had and how they ranked in the world, compared to everybody else. Relying on each other and having one other to provide for failed to create a satisfying and happy relationship for Tom and Daisy. Fame was more of a burden than a