Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby Essay

The Great Gatsby Datrice Mulsumo Melvin Joyce Word count: 951 The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F.Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920’s that ties power with wealth. Those with wealth have the power over the less fortunate such as farmers and laborers. This theme is portrayed through the characters of the book, how they live their lifestyles, also a location called the Valley of ashes. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you've had”, (FItzgerald 1) Said Nick’s Father to him. This quote is a very important quote because it ties back to the theme in several ways realizes at the end of the book. Does Daisy Buchanan really love Jay Gatsby, or does she love what he has? Which is Wealth? Daisy and Gatsby once had a relationship of what they called “love”. At this period of time Gatsby was not a man of wealth, which later becomes the downfall of the relationship.” She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me” Gatsby told Tom Buchanan. Daisy felt as if she had more power over Gatsby because she was wealthier. Though she and Gatsby were in love it was as if they were unequal human beings because Gatsby was a poor man at that period of time in his life.. Within in this fascinating novel includes two types of “rich” those with old money are located in the East Egg that have Inherited money and those of new money earned by work are located in West Egg represent the newly rich. The wealthy newly rich within the this book do not hide their wealth at all, Gatsby for example lives in a monstrously ornate mansion, wears a pink suit, drives a Rolls-Royce and throws many parties. Old money, East Eggers prove themselves careless and inconsiderate bullies who are so used to money’s ability to get what they want that they never worry about hurting others. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are an example of this stereotype. At the end of the novel Tom and Daisy Buchanan simply move to a new house far away rather than to attend Gatsby’s funeral. Gatsby gaved his life for Daisy when he claimed a murder that he had never committed to protect the women that he loved.“ They were Careless people Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made”, said Nick (pg.144-145).
The valley of ashes lye between West Egg and New York City consists of a long stretch of desolate land created by the dumping of industrial ashes. It represents poverty, moral and social decay that results from the pursuit of wealth, as the rich folks like Daisy and Tom enjoy life and spend money as if there are no problems in the world. The valley of ashes also symbolizes the poor people such as, like George Wilson and his wife who live in Mr. Wilson's garage, live among the dirty ashes. Tom a man of wealth finds the need to have a mistress, Mrs. Wilson who he flatters with anything she wants. “I want to get one of those dogs”, (pg. 28) says Mrs. Wilson and without much resistance Tom buys the dog for him mistress.
In the novel The Great Gatsby the valley of ashes symbolizes absolute poverty and hopelessness, and is where the less fortunate

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