The Importance Of Power In The Great Gatsby

In the 1962 Amazing Fantasy the 15th edition of The Amazing Spider-Man, Uncle Ben says, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In society, the more rich individuals appear, the more power they have to gain, however, the way the power is used can delegate their story. Similar to Spiderman, F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates the importance of power in The Great Gatsby. Set in the 1920s, the novel explores the lives of Nobility on the east coast through the perspective of a middle eastern, middle-class man. Characters Like Gatsby, Daisy, and Myrtle experience the fluctuations that come with access to power and the ability to influence. Fitzgerald uses the characterization and experience of the characters Gatsby, Daisy, and Myrtle in The

Gatsby’s infatuation with obtaining power and money conspired for various reasons, his love for Daisy being a prominent one. Gatsby’s search for approval from Daisy after rejection, due to his lack of status and net worth, helps to fuel his fire to become powerful. “‘She never loved you, do you hear?’ he cried. ‘She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me’” (Fitzgerald 130). In doing so, he orchestrates lavish parties to attempt to catch her attention. Additionally, Gatsby longed for the American dream, the idea that equal opportunity can be available to anyone as long as hard work is put in. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning– So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”(Fitzgerald 180). Along with his call to power, Gatsby’s sacrifices created room for his own consequences such as loneliness and death. Although Gatsby had highly populated parties and events in his home, he was lonely. Nick notices his

Women in the 1920s were not seen as individuals yet as trophies to show off and mothers to children. In order to secure a bright future, a happy life, and survive through man while simultaneously attempting to not show too much intellect and superiority in the process. “I hope she’ll be a fool- that the best thing a girl can be in this world, is a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 17). Instead of following her heart and Marrying Gatsby, she marries the self-righteous nobleman, Tom Buchanan. Daisy’s call to power was reasonable due to her circumstances, but any power can come with consequences. Daisy loses the opportunity to remain in a life of true happiness with Gatsby because she passed him over because of his wealth, however, her happiness is not the only thing that experiences trials. Although she becomes apart of nobility, she did it for the cost of being overlooked and used.Daisy forced herself into a loveless marriage that created the opportunity for her to be continuously disrespected. “I never loved him, she said, with perceptible reluctance” (Fitzgerald 139). Her husband committed adultery in her face and for that, she suffered. However, when she was to do not even a quarter of what her husband, Tom, did with his mistress to Gatsby, she was degraded heavily. Additionally, Daisy earned a lack of integrity once she become a figure of power. She became carless to people like Gastby, a man who cared