Money for Money's Sake in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

It was the last days of summer. The atmosphere began to change, leaves falling, and the sky the perfect crisp blue like a never ending ocean. Gatsby decided it was the perfect day to take a dip in the pool, since he hadn’t used it all summer. But, that dream was unfortunately brought to a fatal end. Do you know what it’s like to be shot? Do you know what it’s like to drown in your own pool of blood? Your body sinking to the bottom as the water engulfs you. Your lungs now only filled with blood, and only thing you can do is lie in the abyss of your death. This is Gatsby’s story as he was killed in his own home.

This passage located at the falling action of Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, after Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan’s argument (page 128-129) focuses on Gatsby recounting his initial courting of Daisy Buchanan. It contributes to the development of the novel, for it is the first time that Gatsby confronts his past and reveals his desperation to preserve his dream of attaining Daisy, which, the reader senses through Fitzgerald’s ominous tone, is coming to a hopeless end. Through Fitzgerald’s portrayal of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship and Gatsby’s unconscious illusions, the passage addresses the themes regarding the arrogance of the rich, and the illusionary nature of the American Dream.

The Great Gatsby By Fitzgerald is a novel with an occurring theme, this theme is that the past must stay in the past, and that no matter how badly one should like to relive it, no good outcome in presented when chasing something you can never catch; the past. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby to establish this theme, from the time they first meet to the time Gatsby told Nick his intentions of reuniting with Daisy.

The world is full of powerful forces that control people from all corners of the globe, but one of the most powerful and far-reaching force is money. Money is something that controls multiple people's lives and their decisions, sometimes people revolve their lives around money. Just like in the real world, in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, money is a large concept in the book and is a motivator for multiple characters. The Great Gatsby is about Nick as he follows the story of Jay Gatsby and his quest to gain money and uses theses riches to win over his past lover, Daisy. Gatsby is not the only character that uses money to get his way or is materialistic, as multiple

This greed can be seen first and foremost in the appearance of the main character, Jay Gatsby. The author utilizes the characters possessions and appearance to evolve his personality and eventually reveal his tragic flaws as the main character. Gatsby's Mansion, his car, and the lavish parties that he throws are all symbolic in some way or another of the wealth that Gatsby possesses. It is this wealth and his desires that lead to the corruption that engulfs all the characters and ultimately Gatsby death. Every aspect of his character, his appearance, his mannerisms, and

Almost exactly five years ago, under the exact same rain and grey, that Gatsby fellow was killed. He was murdered. Rain and grey, I tell you. His life was taken by one Mr Wilson with a gun. Right in his pool, too! He died floating on the bright blue water of the extravagant pool in his back garden. Now the weather was not the same rain and grey… but the feeling that consumed me after I learnt of his

Gatsby has many issues of repeating his past instead of living in the present. A common

Money is generally presented as a symbol for stability and happiness, however The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald contradicts this idea. Throughout the novel, Jay Gatsby is known for his unimaginable formation of wealth and has the innate capability to achieve his dreams, however he does not realize that his dreams are above him due to the heavy corruption present in the 1920’s. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald presents money as an antagonist since wealth is the primary stimulant in the characters’ motivations, relationships, and happiness.

    Ex-President Jimmy Carter knows both the power and the limitations of money. He is also aware that the acquisition of money or material wealth is not a worthwhile goal. This was made clear in his speech to the American people when he stated:  "Our great cities and our mighty buildings will avail us not if we lack spiritual strength to subdue mere objects to the higher purposes of humanity" (Harnsberger 14). In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, the author clearly illustrates that Jay Gatsby does not understand the limitations of the power of money. Gatsby believes that money can recreate the past, buy him happiness, and allow him to climb the social ladder in the prominent East

First, the community’s attitude toward money and obsession with money was prominent. Throughout the book, “One of the main themes of The Great Gatsby is the attitude of its characters- . . . -toward money” (Gross 149). The book highlighted the amount of money each character had and their social status in the community because of their wealth or lack of wealth. Many characters and the entire community dreamed of becoming rich to make themselves worthy of higher social statuses. Palladino once said, “The idea was that anyone could become a millionaire regardless of one's background” (Palladino 31). The community’s interest in wealth and what was believed about money was depicted many times. For example, “Most of these fellas will cheat you every time. All they think of is money. . . ” (Fitzgerald 31). This quote shows that many people were focused on the amount of money they could

Initially, Gatsby's actions on Lake Superior highlight both his assertion of control over his life and his endeavor to escape his roots. When a young James Gatz, lounging on the sandy beach of Lake Superior, witnesses Dan Cody's yacht “drop anchor,” he “borrow[s] a row-boat” and “pull[s] out” to the yacht, “inform[ing]” Cody of an imminent storm (Fitzgerald 98).

Gatsby seemed like an anti-social, cold, mysterious man. However, I know a very different man. I know a man whom since young has grew up in poverty as a poor farmer boy. He was an ordinary boy, but he had extraordinary ambitions, ambitions no man of his social stature would dare to even begin assuming. In an unexpected coincidence, while working as a fisher, he met with a Dan Cody, who took him in as a personal assistant. It was through Dan Cody that Mr. Gatsby learnt the ways of luxury and even further solidified his ambition. Before I first took up the job to work with Mr. Gatsby, I was desperate. Desperation … I still recall the days of uncertainty that questioned if I was able to feed my wife and 2 children each day. However, when I was down, so down I almost attempted suicide on the shores, Mr. Gatsby reached out, and turn my life around. Not only did he settle all my financial need, he educated me, gave me a stable job. The fact that I am able to read and speak fluently is a testament to his efforts, and to him I am eternally

Fitzgerald employs the extended metaphor of the “new world” to illustrate the total collapse of Gatsby’s reality(169). After Gatsby realizes he has lost the one dream of his life, he enters a world “where poor ghosts breath[] dreams like air”(169). Though Gatsby is in his own backyard, he is looking up at “an unfamiliar sky”(169). Before, this yard gave view to the green light near Daisy’s house, a symbol of hope and love and promise for Gatsby, but with his dream evaporated he finds himself vacantly looking out on his empty wealth. Once Gatsby has lost hope, he himself becomes a “poor ghost” with no conceivable aim, drive, or purpose(169). This shift in reality aligns with the change from summer to autumn as Gatsby felt “he had lost the old warm world,” instead “disappear[ing] among the yellowing trees”(169). Gatsby’s dream to reunite with Daisy depended on a disregard for the passage of time, and this metaphor reiterates that his life has crumbled because of that disregard. The transition from summer to fall parallels Gatsby’s transition from his old world full of hope to the new world devoid of meaning. As the leaves and trees and grass lose their vitality, so do Gatsby and his dream. Furthermore, Fitzgerald draws a connection between Wilson and Gastby as “poor ghosts...like that ashen, fantastic figure gliding towards him through the amorphous trees”(169). This comparison further sheds light on Gatsby’s state: Wilson just had the one thing he loved snatched from him, exiling him into the world of ghosts and driving him to murder. The utter hopelessness more overtly seen in Wilson is extended to Gatsby as they are thrust together in the new world and, soon after, death. Finally, the futility of Gatsby’s new life is displayed by the lack of a

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is by far one of the most interesting yet congested books I have ever read. I feel as if the story is shifting as soon as I was able to tell what was happening. One idea that was constant was the themes, symbols and motifs used throughout. Love and the seduction of money, to me, were the most influential themes that I noticed in the book.

Symbolism provides an imagery that helps facilitate a deeper understanding. Taking place in the 1920’s, The Great Gatsby, is set during a time when society both put up facades while also striving to achieve wealth and high social status. The classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald cleverly uses multiple symbols throughout the novel to expose the issues with society at that time. The ultimate goal of this novel is to elaborate the class struggles and illustrate the goal to achieve of American dream. The Great Gatsby, The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, uses the infamous green light, the metaphor of an egg, and pearls to show and support the overall theme of the American Dream.