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How Does Money Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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Many people believe that money is the key to happiness and they seek it persistently in order to run away from poverty. Poverty alone is challenging but it becomes a bigger challenge when you become a victim of the corruption of money. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald the readers explore a story of ambition, tragedy, and betrayal;All because of money and reputation. In his novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald utilizes symbolism to reveal the drastic differences between the wealthy and the poor. One of the most fascinating and effective symbols used by Fitzgerald throughout this novel is the colors he uses to represent each of the social classes. The colors that Fitzgerald wisely chose to enforce this theme allows the readers to get insight on how each class is being viewed. Tom and Daisy’s house contains French windows that were “glowing with reflected gold” (Fitzgerald 11). When Gatsby wanted to impress Daisy with his achievement of wealth he wore a …show more content…

When Daisy and Jordan were laying down on the couch Fitzgerald describes them laying down “like silver idols weighing down on their own white dresses” (Fitzgerald 122). All of these colors (white, silver and gold) are considered clean and pure; Based on that idea, the reader can make the connection that the wealthy are “clean” in the sense that they don’t have work (“get their hands dirty”) in order to have a good life. On the other hand, When Tom and Nick went to the valley of ashes, a place where there are “grey cars..and ash-grey men” (Fitzgerald 27) working , they picked up Myrtle who later on changes her dark blue dress into a “brown figured muslin” (Fitzgerald 31) to go out with Tom. Unlike the clean colors used for the wealthy, it is evident that Fitzgerald used earth colors to

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Fitzgerald uses color to differentiate the social classes of the by describing them with color. In The Great Gatsby Nick states that Daisy is the “Golden Girl…” (120). this description of Daisy shows that she is a girl of money and status because gold has a symbolic meaning of money and wealth. On the other hand Fitzgerald describes the man selling Airedales to Tom as a “Gray old man” (27). Basically what Fitzgerald is suggesting is that the man selling Airedales is a man of a low social status because gray symbolizes depression, and the man is trying to find a way to make money so he can climb the social ladder.

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The 1920s was a time of flamboyance and wealth in the upper class. Jay Gatsby, a man of old money, threw over the top parties, in which he would spend his money very nonchalantly. The ambiance of his parties greatly illustrated the upper class of the time. The author uses symbolism and characterization to support the central idea that the upper class was very careless, wealthy, and extravagant. Gatsby’s parties are luxurious, glamorous, and over the top.

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Prosperity and Poison; How Green Shapes The Great Gatsby Color plays an astronomical role in The Great Gatsby. Whether it be the red and white house that Tom and Daisy live in, or the yellow Rolls-Royce that Gatsby drives around town, each single color holds a greater significance and is handpicked by Fitzgerald to represent something greater. The green light from Daisy’s dock is an iconic part of the story and represents a multitude of presentations in the story. However, it is from this light that the reader can see Gatsby’s fate from the very beginning and how it impacts the story. The symbolism of green light is used by Fitzgerald to paint a tragic picture of what Gatsby yearns for, but will ultimately play a hand in his demise.

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The Dangers of Money in The Great Gatsby Money plays a big role in the lives of everyone. It can make them happy, or comfortable, but it can also be dangerous. In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald teaches us that obsessing over large sums of money and using it carelessly can lead down a dangerous path, how it can make you blind to responsibility, strip you of your goals, and give you false hope for happiness. One of the most dangerous outcomes of having a large amount of money is that you can become blind or numb to responsibility.

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Gatsby believes that money can buy him whatever his heart desires. Gatsby’s misunderstanding of the way money functions in the society he lives in results in the failure of his attempt to gain both status and the

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Bang! Bang! Those could be the last sounds you could ever hear if you have been too obsessed with money . All of the people in the Great Gatsby love money and it turns out that the money betrays them. In F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby it proves that no matter how much you have money can't buy true happiness.

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The Unfulfillment of Money Throughout life, the use of money can influence decisions in both positive and negative ways. As these decisions are made, it is important to remember money cannot provide happiness in all aspects of a person’s life. In the novel titled, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, most of the characters are influenced by money in the decisions they make. They are focused on what money can provide for them in the moment instead of focusing on long-lasting happiness. Even though money can provide enjoyment through a luxurious lifestyle, those who focus on wealth will lack true happiness.

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Matt Bradley Mr. Rutigliano English 10 1/12/17 How Does Money Impact Personality? Will Smith once said, “Money and Success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.” Similarly, In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan have different personalities although they are both in similar social class, and these similarities in social class ultimately show that money does not affect someone's personality; it is what someone chooses to do with the situation that they are in which determines one’s personality. Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan are in the same Social Class.

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Fitzgerald uses the colors yellow and gold as a symbol for both wealth, falsehoods, and death. Throughout the novel many objects are singled out and emphasized for their yellow color. From the golden yellow turkeys at Gatsby’s party and Gatsby’s yellow tie to more importantly his bright yellow car and the spectacles of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg, the emphasis on the color yellow makes its symbolic use unquestionable. Traditionally yellow and gold have been symbols of money and the upper-class. The novel maintains a connection between the color gold and affluence through Daisy; Gatsby says “‘[Daisy’s] voice is full of money,’” and Nick adds that “the inexhaustible charm that [rises] and [falls] … high in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden

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In F Scotts Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby money is a valuable resource throughout the whole story becasue it shows that money can’t buy love or friendship. It also shows how people are when they have money and how the uses are different. It shapes the characters throughout the whole story, it can shape them in an effective way or even a bad way. Money in The Great Gatsby is all the same but depending on the characters that change, Tom and Daisy being old money there use for money is more personal in their everyday life, they know how to use and manage money. Gatsby on the other hand spends his money in a not responsible way by throwing all these parties, he is buying other people’s pleasure.

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In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald characterizes the 1920s as an era of decayed social and moral values. One of the major themes explored in this novel is the Hollowness of the Upper Class. The entire book revolves around money including power and little love. Coincidentally the three main characters of the novel belong to the upper class and throughout the novel Fitzgerald shows how this characters have become corrupted and have lost their morality due to excess money and success and this has led them to change their perspective towards other people and they have been portrayed as short-sighted to what is important in life. First of all, we have the main character of this novel, Gatsby who won’t stop at nothing to become rich overnight in illegal dealings with mobsters such as Wolfsheim in order to conquer Daisy’s heart.”

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