Importance Of Social Status In Andrew Carnegie's The Gospel Of Wealth

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One’s social status in the times of Old New York was made up by the elements of money and a powerful family standing behind their young and flourishing children. Everybody wants to who the person at the top is because they seem that they are living the perfect American Dream; But are they really? In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby the social kingdom is ruled by the so-called ‘A’ Listers with loads of cash along with power. The readers learn to realize that even with the high social status and infinite funds does not bring true happiness. Being high in the social class rankings is determined by your wealth and family history, but those things combined can never bring anyone to be content with life and the things that come with a happily ever after. In The Great Gatsby, who one’s family is and how wealthy one is is the key to becoming the king and or queen of the social kingdom. Daisy and Tom Buchannon are loaded and have access to anything that their hearts desire. Jay Gatsby has earned his fortune just recently, but is equally as rich. All these characters have the riches, but their family histories differ. …show more content…

In Andrew Carnegie’s The Gospel of Wealth, he goes into depth about how the high status should be making a difference in the society: “In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they rise; to assist; but rarely or never do at all” (Carnegie). Carnegie is saying that the A-listers of the world with their gross amounts of money need to step up and make a change about poverty and those who are in need of aid. Popularity is about being someone who everyone wants to be because of their good deeds, not for their material