How Is Daisy Corrupt In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a timeless novel that examines the decadence and moral corruption of the wealthy class during the Roaring Twenties. Set in the lavish lifestyle of the elite class of Long Island, the book follows the tragic story of Jay Gatsby and his hopeless love for the charming Daisy Buchanan. The novel displays harsh criticism of the wealthy's excesses and their inclination to act immorally to achieve their goals. Through the characters and their actions, Fitzgerald depicts a society in which the characters are immoral to reach a goal. In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the moral corruption of the wealthy class suggests that greed and ambition to achieve an objective enables people to justify their immoral behavior as a means to an

Daisy was the epitome of his goal. Daisy, who is morally corrupt as well could be seen as a “gold digger.” Daisy is extremely materialistic and shallow. In the novel, Gatsby indirectly acknowledges this, “she never loved you, do you hear?” he cried. “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!” (Fitzgerald 100). Daisy is morally corrupt because she willingly left Gatsby for Tom in pursuit of wealth. Daisy does not have a true perception of love. She associates herself with those who can accommodate her luxurious lifestyle. Gatsby also proves his own moral corruption as well. Literary editor Anne Marie Hacht criticizes the actions of Gatsby and observes that Gatsby can only be with Daisy “by building a social mystery around his identity and involving himself in illegal dealings''(ed.Hacht). All Gatsby wants is to win his former lover back. In order to do that he knows he needs to become wealthy to provide for Daisy’s materialistic desires. In order to achieve his goal he is willing to do whatever it takes even if it is morally wrong. In

Myrtle Wilson is an example of moral corruption because of her illicit affair with Tom Buchanan and her desire for materialistic possessions. Myrtle and Tom both cheat on their spouses which is obviously wrong, however, they seem to take it to another level. Tom particularly is very open about his affairs which proves that he is arrogant and has no morals or values. Additionally, Myrtle insults her husband behind his back:” I married [George] because I thought he was a gentleman,” she said finally. “I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe”(Fitzgerald 29). Myrtle degrades her own husband because she feels superior since she is having a relationship with the a very affluent Tom Buchanan even though she is of the same rank as her husband. Hacht notes, “For Myrtle Wilson, the truth gets in the way of her personal goal: to become a woman of class. She hides her affair with Tom Buchanan because the truth would prevent her from living life in the city as the well-kept mistress of a wealthy man. As Tom's lover, she can live a better life than George can provide” (Hacht). Myrtle’s goal was to become part of the elite class, and Tom was her one-way ticket. Tom also buys her what she wants, which is something her husband may not be able to afford due to his status and income. To add on, George and Myrtle live in the area of the valley of ashes. The valley is very significant because it