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Social Class In The Great Gatsby Essay

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The role of social classes is one of various themes and ideas in the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, that has left scholars debating for years. Since the creation of social classes, a social division between both the rich and poor has developed. The upper class is aware that their money places them in a position of power, so they belittle and treat others with no respect. This debatable topic will be supported by the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and other critical essays by Tanfer Emin and Carla Verderame. They all share the same concluding idea that wealth can corrupt the human mind along with society. Wealth can exempt you from any form of penalty and make resources easier. Although Tom is a prime example of a wealthy person who believes he has a divine right to devalue those who are not as privileged as him, Jordan Baker represents the carelessness of the upper class better. She acknowledges her lack of accountability for anything; “I am careful.” “No, you’re not.” “Well, other people are,” she said lightly. …show more content…

The ego can feed off of hearing that it’s great without doing anything. Tom’s ego feeds off of people wanting and needing him for his money. Especially his “lower class mistress whose materialism makes him feel powerful” (Verderame par. 5). Tom’s inflation with the feeling of pride gives him a sense of false superiority, “Tom is not afraid to lash out against women (especially his lower class mistress whose materialism makes him feel powerful) in order to exhort authority over them” (Tanfer par. 13). Myrtle's need for a piece of the pie and wanting for Tom puts an idea in his head where he thinks he can mistreat her: “ Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!’ shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘ I’ll say it whenever I want to ! Daisy! Dai —‘ Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” (Fitzgerald pg 37) Tom keeps Myrtle around for these

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In the novel The Great Gatsby, F.Scott Fitzgerald depicts the theme of “wealth can breed carelessness” using the literary devices and/or techniques of irony, irony, and point of view. From Nick 's perspective, the wealthy characters of this story tend to act ignorantly and care nothing else besides themselves, which would impact others, including the actions shown by Gatsby, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan. First of all, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the theme of “Wealth can breed carelessness” using irony. In the text, a conversation between Jordan and Nick, “‘They’ll keep out of my way,’ she insisted.

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This quote emphasizes the extreme lengths that Tom is willing to go to manipulate Myrtle and her feelings to have her believing that he loves her and wants to be with her but can’t because his wife is religious, which is a total lie. In addition Tom also manipulates Myrtle physically. “Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald 32). Tom punches Myrtle when she doesn’t stop saying his wife’s name. This shows that level of self-control that Tom does not have and that he thinks that taking his anger out on a person is ok.

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The Negative Influence of Wealth Wealth and prosperity are the core of living a lavish lifestyle and having a successful life. However, money can influence people into debauchery. In the book, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald introduces to us to some of the dangers of being rich. Most people in the Great Gatsby were very privileged, and they lived a lavish lifestyle.

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The impact of socioeconomic status can be examined through a myriad of lenses. F. Scott Fitzgerald aims to show the relationship between socioeconomic status and power. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Tom’s character shows that socioeconomic status is equivalent to power within the novel. Tom puts great pride and emphasis on his socioeconomic status and wealth.

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In the Great Gatsby, privilege comes into play. Privilege in this context means being born with advantages that you did not earn or work for. Some people have to work to get their money but others are born with money which means that they didn’t have to work for their money. Gatsby for example was not born with money. He had to make his own money by selling and dealing drugs and is now a very wealthy man.

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Daisy Buchanan luckily hails from a wealthy, stable background and could easily get away with being careless and acting dimwitted. Although Daisy Buchanan frequently faked her obliviousness, in reality she acknowledged how women are treated poorly, and hopes that her daughter, Pamela, would grow up to “be a fool – that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool " (Fitzgerald 17). Daisy’s materialistic views and cynicism illustrate how she prioritizes money over love. Daisy’s husband, Tom, has recurring affairs with Myrtle Wilson, a lower class woman who tries to be on the same eloquent level as the Buchanans. Daisy is repeatedly betrayed by her husband, with another woman.

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Society and the laws by which it is governed are set by one thing and only one thing; humans. Normal people set and agree upon the laws, and abide by them in their daily lives, but not everyone is a normal person. The laws set by society do not apply to everyone, whether that be by legal exceptions, or just an immense amount of money and power. This is especially touched upon in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby. In the book, Fitzgerald’s depiction of the problems of Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby face, and how they handle them relative to the lower class, illustrates that money and status make those who wield it invulnerable to the laws by which the rest of society are held to.

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The theme of carelessness represented by Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan, and Daisy Buchanan is crucial for the development of the plot of this novel. Myrtle Wilson is a prime example of carelessness within the novel. She knows that Tom is a married man, and is very violent, yet, she continues to see him. Myrtle is focused on what

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An early display of Tom’s violence is when he is arguing with Myrtle about whether or not she has the right to say Daisy’s name. When Myrtle refuses to comply with Tom’s request, “making a short, deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand”(20). The scene in which this event takes place is in the beginning of the story and is probably meant to represent a typical day in Tom’s life. This shows Tom’s willingness to use violence over an issue as small as Myrtle saying a name. Furthermore, this violence is used by Tom to control Myrtle’s actions.

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An important theme in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is the corruption of morals because of wealth. It doesn’t matter if one comes from old or new money, wealth will corrupt the morality of even the humblest. The first example of wealth corrupting morals is in the indifference to infidelity between the married Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson. The next example of wealth corrupting morals is seen in Jordan Baker’s actions to keep her luxurious lifestyle. Third, Jim Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth lead to the corruption of his morals.

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He is able to do this because he has money to hide it and is able to sneak around with anyone he wishes. In the second chapter Tom states that he wants Myrtle to visit him, “I want to see you, get on the next train.” (Fitzgerald 30). Tom wants Myrtle to visit his place so that he can show her how much that he can give her. He isn’t worried about Daisy finding out about her.

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How does the desire to pursue money and power negatively impact the characters' moral sense of right or wrong? Many people allow their social class and wealth to determine their belonging in life. In The Great Gatsby people with "old money" are more respected and superior than those with "new money". The characters' actions are driven by their desire for wealth and power.

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“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 179). This quote captures the advantages the upper class has because of their money. Tom and Daisy’s actions left three people dead, yet they received no punishments .They put all their baggage on the lower class, and left them to pick up the pieces.     In The Great Gatsby, the theme of social class is very significant in the book. Scott F. Fitzgerald used the theme of social class to show the reader that it plays a much bigger role in life.

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Tom’s altercation with Myrtle accentuates his hypocrisy and lack of self-control; while he doesn’t feel guilty for cheating on Daisy with Myrtle, he feels that he has the right to maintain his authority over Myrtle. In this same scene, Myrtle, who is also drunk, draws attention to the negative aspects of her personality.

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Daisy! Dai-’” (37). Myrtle attempts to appear powerful in the eyes of Tom, however, Tom makes sure to advertise that the real power is in his hands. During Myrtle and Tom’s argument, he breaks her nose for the sole purpose of sending her the message that as long as she continues to have an affair with him, her feminine power will not be tolerated by him.

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