Similarities Between Rockefeller And The Great Gatsby

America’s Pastime/A connection between two powerful people

During the early 19th century there were many people who were rich, but also many who were poor. Those who big business owners took advantage of their wealth and power and used it against the less fortunate. The economy was regulated during this time so entrepreneurs were able to do whatever they wanted to benefit their company. An example of a person who took advantage of their wealth during this time period was John D. Rockefeller. The Roaring Twenties was a time of where the economy was booming. However, there still was a large distinction between the rich and the poor. Many people during this time period where wealthy and believe they had superiority over everyone. It was a very

Rockefeller had similar approaches in the way that they influenced others; Tom believed he had natural superiority over everyone, and he showed this by treating others with disrespect, while Rockefeller asserted his dominance by working with railroad companies in order to eliminate his oil company competitors and gain a monopoly, but in the end, both Tom and John did make some positive contributions to society whether it was being a national figure in football or benefiting the economy. Tom Buchanan is an aggressive, arrogant, and wealthy individual who uses his wealth to attract women and his big physical presence to take advantage of others. Tom comes from a very wealthy family, so he was born into thinking he is better than everyone and he could do anything he would like in life. Because he is so rich, he uses his wealth to attract his wife Daisy and his mistress Myrtle. He often treats his wife and mistress with disrespect if they do not do what he says. It is obvious that Daisy does not care about her husband's uncomplimentary actions saying “That's what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big,

Rockefeller used their wealth and power to take advantage of others, but throughout both of their lives they made some positive contributions to society as well. While Rockefeller uses his wealth and influence to get support from the railroads to undercut oil producers, Tom uses his wealth to attract Daisy and Myrtle. Rockefeller’s main goal was to make his make his company as powerful as possible, which is why he lowered oil prices in order to expand the market. Tom uses his wealth mainly to control other people. The only reason Daisy and Myrtle like Tom is because of his wealth and no matter how poorly he treats them, they always end up forgiving him. Both Rockefeller and Buchanan use there power to get what they want. For Rockefeller, if an opposing company was able to have an oil product shipped to a dealer, he “undersold until the dealer, losing on his purchase, was glad enough to buy thereafter of Mr. Rockefeller” (Tarbell 1). This is saying that he would do everything in his power to not allow other companies the ability to transport oil products. Rockefeller was a bully and so is Tom Buchanan. Tom often used force against his wife and mistress in order to get them to do what he wants. Tom often compels people by virtue of his personality, which means forcing others to like him. Although John D. Rockefeller and Tom Buchanan are considered cruel people, they both have done accomplished things in their lifetimes. Rockefeller not only made