The Great Gatsby Materialism Analysis

The Great Gatsby is a novel written by the author F. Scott Fitzgerald in nineteen twenty five. An important theme in this novel is the materialism of the nineteen twenties and the death of the American Dream. No character represents these two themes better than Daisy. Although the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, tries his best to make her appear to be worthy of Gatsby’s loyalty in the end she turns out to be shallow and selfish, despite her charm and looks. The novel’s main plot revolves around Gatsby trying to win her back. Perhaps Gatsby merely loves the idea of her. The idea of the twenties flapper girl that she represents. A fashionable young girl that only cares about having fun and disregarding America’s social norms and standards of behavior.

Her lack of shame regarding her materialism is what the flapper lifestyle is all about. She married Tom for his money and power so she could enjoy the benefits of his wealth. Daisy is so obsessed with materialism that she even says being a fool is “the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool”, when referring to her daughter. This implies that she believes that a woman shouldn’t strive to be something great. That women should use their looks to survive in this age of industrialization, jazz, materialism and the death of the American Dream. It 's clear that Daisy isn’t how Gatsby remembers her. Not that he spent a lot of time with her and five years is enough time for numerous changes. Gatsby is blinded by his dream of getting Daisy back.

At first the reader is lead to believe that Daisy has found love when she reunited with Gatsby. Although I’d question that. Why would she be in tears when she was shown some shirts? “Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily”. I think it’s because they represent wealth. When she cries into the shirts she is displaying her materialism. This could also be seen as a rebellion against the social norms. But she doesn’t cry because she has finally reunited with Gatsby, but because of the pleasure and joy all this material wealth brings

When she runs over Tom’s mistress the readers understand that she has no sense of right and wrong. To Daisy, anyone who doesn’t give her more wealth and material goods is useless to her. Then she abandons Gatsby when he dies. Daisy and Tom just leave New York, seemingly unaffected by the events that have unfolded in this novel. But it isn’t just Daisy’s love for materialism or selfishness that connects her with the nineteen twenties flappers, it’s her rebellion against social norms as I have stated before. She drinks, smokes, and she even drove Gatsby’s car at what I’d assume were high speeds. These were all activities that were thought of as “unwomanly” and represent the flapper