The Great Gatsby Materialism Analysis

The negative effects of materialism can destroy mental health and relationships. The psychology of materialism leads people to look for temporary happiness. In “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a group of wealthy people deal and struggle with the negative effects of materialism. One decides what they want verses what they need by knowing what is necessary to survive. An imbalance of this can cause a life time of struggling and sadness. First of all, people believe that money and material possessions lead to happiness. When Gatsby took too long to come from war, Daisy settled for Tom because of his money: “ Her husband, among various physical accomplishment, had been one of the most powerful ends that ever played football…”(Fitzgerald 6). Daisy thought she would be happy with Tom because of his money not because of his personality. Another example is from “Avarice” by Yusuf Komunyakaa. In “Avarice” the woman became trapped in a cycle of obtaining material possessions and not happiness: “ Now twenty-six,/ locked in the beauty of her bones,/

Gatsby tried to hide his sadness with a mansion full of objects that, in the end, meant nothing: “ Gatsby’s house was still empty whom I left…”( Fitzgerald 179). Gatsby was hurt that Daisy didn't wait for him so he kept buying material object to try and forget about how much he missed her. Also, in “ The Good Life” by Tracy K. Smith the man spent his whole life trying to be wealthy and then was sad when he achieved that: “… And it makes me nostalgic for the years I lived on coffee and bread,/ Hungry all the time, walking to work on pay day”( Smith 92). People think that being rich is easier and happier. When they achieve this wealth they realize that they were happier when they weren't that rich. Both Gatsby and the man in the poem thought they were happier with objects and materials then when they weren't as rich. Wealthy people tend to be more