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Morality In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

1395 Words6 Pages

Many believe the purpose of religion is to inspire us to live well. God is the ultimate judge of character, rewarding those who act well and punishing those who sin—incentivizing us to adhere to the rules of right and wrong. But what if we were judged not for our actions in life, but rather for what we inherited at birth? F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby explores the truth of morality through the story of Jay Gatsby's lifelong pursuit of wealth and his ultimate downfall at the hands of the Tom and Daisy who came from old money. In the story, God is advertised as the ultimate enforcer of right and wrong, while he truly favors and elevates the money under the religion of capitalism. Even within this wealthy class, those who attempt to make …show more content…

The 'fenders' of Gatsby's expensive car'spread like wings' and allowed him to fly up to the neighborhood. The 'Christmas' card, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, was used as a certificate and waved in the 'eyes' of the police officer, whose job it is to decide who is guilty and who is not. By using his assets of wealth and power like currency, Gatsby successfully bought himself moral status. Nevertheless, Tom's damnation of Gatsby as the devil had the power to crumble his newly bought moral status. One afternoon, Tom stopped by Gatsby's house with Mr. Sloane and a woman who, after a few drinks, invited Nick and Gatsby to her house for dinner much to the chagrin of Tom. He remarked how he wondered "where in the devil he met Daisy". By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me. They meet all kinds of crazy fish" (103). Repeating the sentiments of the partygoers, Tom used the word 'devil' to describe the former low class of Gatsby. His ideas may be 'old-fashioned', just as God's rules of morality are old fashioned, but he staunchly believed it is morally wrong for Daisy to run around with Gatsby, a 'crazy fish'--whose connotation is revealed with Daisy's warning at the next …show more content…

Daisy asked Nick to keep guard outside, in case of a "fire or a flood.or any act of God" (105). In the book of Genesis, God sent a flood to rid the world of its corrupted people. Daisy, fearing that Gatsby was corrupt and evil, believed God would send a flood or punishment to him. He was a 'crazy fish' because he could swim in the water of the flood that was sent to drown him and 'crazily' survive as if he lived off of his bad actions. Up in the Plaza Hotel, Gatsby and Tom fought to prove that Daisy loved only them and not the other. Tom "tapped his thick fingers together like a clergyman and leaned back in his chair.that's a God Damned lie." Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now." 131. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Assuming the authority of a 'clergyman', a minister of the church, Tom claims any suggestion that Daisy loved Gatsby was impossible and a 'God Damned

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