Greed In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Greed destroys every last ounce of happiness in a person, allowing them to be forever consumed by selfishness, jealousy, and unhealthy obsession, the result is nothing more than death. The novel “The Great Gatsby” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is loosely based on the life of Jay Gatsby as he pursues his goal of winning the affection of an old lover Daisy, a married young gal who is more inclined toward her love of wealth. In the novel money plays an essential role throughout the story and is a primary motivator for many characters, as well as how real-life American society is built around money rather than self-fulfillment.

West and East Egg as described by the story paints how high social status and wealth deem the worth and value of the

Time and time again Gatsby wastes away his own life for the love of a married woman and to gain the respect of those who had once questioned his ability. His obsession for Daisy had made him focus away from striving solely for wealth, but instead on an impossible goal of her love. Nonetheless, her love for Gatbsy will never be as great as her love for the safety money presents. “Her voice is full of money,” he said suddenly. That was it. I’d never understood before. It was full of money—that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it…” (Fitzgerald 120). In this quote, Gatsby, as well as Nick, are reminded about what truly sets them apart from Daisy and Tom, “old money”. It also gives a larger insight into the possibility of why Daisy had chosen to marry Tom over Gatsby and why she continues to remain with him despite being unhappy. Nick tells how his cousins’ life had changed after her marriage to Tom, “They had spent a year in France for no particular reason and then drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together. This was a permanent move, said Daisy over the telephone, but I didn’t believe it – I had no sight into Daisy’s heart, but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little

Gatsby’s life was never simple, he came from a poor farm family and had to work his way in the shadows of the rich, and failed many times before becoming the person he is. Sadly his goal of wealth is all he will ever be remembered for, even in death his father, like others, only recognizes Gastby’s hard work after seeing the house as proof of his son’s accomplishments. “...he looked around him now for the first time and saw the height and splendor of the hall and the great rooms opening out from it into other rooms, his grief began to be mixed with an awed pride” (Fitzgerald 168). The book parallels how American society may offer more opportunities for upward mobility, gaining wealth through hard work, and also the unrealistic parts that come with such dreams. Gatsby is a prime example of how he is only as great as his possession and grand lifestyle, and the parties he hosted. “But I can still read the gray names, and they will give you a better impression than my generalities of those who accepted Gatsby's hospitality and paid him the subtle tribute of knowing nothing whatsoever about (Fitzgerald 61). In life, no one bothered to get to know who Gatsby was as a person, he was truly alone despite how he presented himself amongst his guests. Although Gatsby was constantly surrounded by people, sounds, amazing sights, and glorious valuables, it wasn’t