The Role Of Happiness In The Great Gatsby

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The definition of happiness is having a pleasurable or satisfying experience from while carrying out an action. It is a common misconception that money leads to happiness or satisfaction. A popular American fiction topic is the separation between money and happiness, it is nearly impossible to possess both at the same time (Luthbury). In The Great Gatsby one of the main characters, Jay Gatsby thinks that if he becomes wealthy, his wealth will bring him happiness and he will be able to get whatever he wants. Other wealthy characters such as Tom and Daisy have many struggles and disputes despite their wealth, while Nick Carraway, a middle class man, journeys contently through his life. This novel can also show how money can corrupt the American …show more content…
People go to Gatsby's parties because he is rich. They can enjoy his expensive foods, drinks, and possessions, but not because they like Gatsby as a person. People that go to Gatsby's parties often have never even spoken to or seen Gatsby there. None of the people that came to his parties showed up at his funeral. "Through business contracts, and many parties he had thrown, only Nick and his father attend his funeral. Money brings nothing but false friendship and false love"(Shen 3). People not showing up to his funeral is proof that people just took advantage of his wealth, and did not care enough about him to show up to his …show more content…
Many of the characters completed part of the American Dream which was becoming a wealthy person, their wealth could not help them with other parts of their dream. "You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have don't things in the spirit of love (Adamson 211). Many characters did not do their actions in the spirit of love but in the spirit of money so did they really live their lives to the fullest? If the characters focused on love instead of money it may have lead them to a happier, and more meaningful
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