“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange it for.” This is a quote said by Henry David Thoreau, which highlights the effects of materialism on lives. Stating that one has greed for money will only end in the loss of their soul and happiness. The Great Gatsby is a classic novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The novel showcases wealth and materialism through the life built by the main character, Gatsby. The story follows Gatsby, who achieved the American dream in order to impress and win back his past lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby, as well as the other characters shown in the novel, live off materialistic values and have lost their souls and morals to money. The novel flaunts Gatsby's wealth and materialism, showing the reader …show more content…
T.J Eckleburg’s piercing blue eyes to represent the sadness and loneliness of upper-class people. “In his blue gardens, men and women came and went like moths among the whisperings, the Champlain, and the stars” (Fitzgerald, 29). It is well known that the color blue symbolizes sadness and loneliness. The quote symbolizes the Gatsby garden carries sadness and whispers, causing wealthy people of the East and West egg to be drawn to it (Howard). The quote also expresses that it is not relationships and love that bring these people together in Gatsby's house but extravagance and convenience because it allows the upper class to flaunt their fancy dresses and accessories while spending time with those who are just as empty and sad as they are. The blue eyes of Dr. Eckleburgs are also a symbol shown throughout the story. “But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain” (Fitzgerald, 17). The eyes are described as blue and very large. These eyes represent god looking down at what wealth has done to society. The blue color, once again, represents sadness, gods sadness. To see his creations losing themselves to wealth and worshiping money and power over their creator. This can also relate to internal isolation and emptiness, as humans are nothing without god, and when they forget him, they begin to lose themselves; their souls and hearts become empty and