One could use felonious ways for wealth to adapt to a progressive society. (Telgen) “F. Scott Fitzgerald viewed the callousness and moral irresponsibility of the affluent American society of the 1920s.” (Telgen) As such, the American dream was an ideal of self-made money. Similarly, selling illegal alcohol, also known as bootlegging, was a massive trend to become richer. F. Scott Fitzgerald used this era in “The Great Gatsby” to show how certain individuals like George Wilson, Tom Buchanan, and Jay Gatsby were affected: Wealth may secure status but also influences each character’s actions.
The status of the lower class results in many limitations. To demonstrate, Tom Buchanan once stated: “He’s so dumb, he doesn’t know that he’s alive” (Gatsby 30). George Wilson is “A victim of circumstance, he has a poor life and can only work to make a living and must ask the man who is having an affair with his wife” (Telgen). As a result, working his hardest for him and his wife to move out west, Wilson discovers that Myrtle has been cheating with the man “helping”
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Talking about the Buchanans, Nick expressed that they “retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness” because of what Tom led George Wilson to do. (Gatsby) “The Buchanans' thirst for the good life victimizes others to the point of murder”. (Telgen) With Tom’s wealth, he escaped a scene where he was at fault. Completely different, Gatsby showed a dream believing in a “green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us” (Gatsby) “Only Gatsby, could be construed as fulfilling the author's vision of the American Dream”. (Telgen) He built himself up, following what the Americans wanted: money. The American dream is so corrupt now that it’s not a happy, relaxing life in the end. With certain levels of wealth, they each have a separate goal to reach, but all include the demand for