Greed In The Great Gatsby

The 1920's was a time of cultural growth; the parties were bigger, the fashion was more classy, and the people became apart of a mass culture. During the 1920's people had extra money and with that extra money they bought luxuries and often times they thought that buying these luxuries and extra money would ease their problems. In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald writes about this greed and the misunderstanding of money. Most of the characters in the book believe that money will bring them happiness. Gatsby believes money and his luxuries will bring him his one and only dream, Daisy. Tom and Daisy believe that money will be their glue for the relationship and their cover up for their problems. Throughout the novel, money is the driving force for

Gatsby throws a large extravagant party with many guests including Nick who was invited. As Nick observes everyone and the party he notices "Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes"(50). Gatsby throws a huge party every week that he probably puts a lot of money into. This image of Gatsby watching as everyone is having fun symbolizes Gatsby's unhappiness. He can't even enjoy his own parties because he believes Daisy will just walk in but she never does so all of that money goes to waste and it does not bring him his happiness. Gatsby finally gets Daisy to his house with some planning and he shows her and Nick around his hotel sized house. In Gatsby's room nick notices "Various indefinite objects in the half darkness. A large photograph of an elderly man in a yachting costume attracted me, hung on the wall over his desk... There was a small picture of Gatsby also in a yachting costume, on the bureau"(93). The first thing Nick actually sees is the large photo of Cody because the "indefinite objects" are blurred and background while the photo is front and center. This image shows a confidence issue in Gatsby but it also shows some sadness. Gatsby has no memorabilia of family pictures he only has material objects that can be bought. He is living a very sad lonely life without friends or family he just has his money and his house but no