The Role Of Wealth In The Great Gatsby

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In the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the characters live a luxurious life in a very materialistic word. Everyone cares only about where they stand in society, the amount of money they have, and having fun. During this time period, the people are extremely egotistical and make decisions based on how it will affect their own appearance. Because of this carefree lifestyle, many different problems appear throughout the book. In chapter seven, at the Plaza Hotel in the city, Tom and Gatsby fight over Daisy. Gatsby is in love with Daisy because he spends his time focusing on their relationship from the past, but she is married to Tom, who is unfaithful. Daisy is left in the middle, extremely overwhelmed and blinded by her love …show more content…
The people on Long Island are all extremely wealthy, but live in neighborhoods according to their social status: new money in West Egg or old money in East Egg. Gatsby, a part of new money, was not always a rich man, as he was born into an extremely poor family. Once he grew up, Gatsby met a man named Dan Cody, who was very wealthy. Gatsby soon became infatuated with money and the life that it promised. Dan Cody passed away, leaving Gatsby with the dream of becoming rich and living a life of extravagance. Gatsby also longed for the love of his life, Daisy, a wealthy woman, with a seductive voice, that was “full of money” (Fitzgerald 120). Gatsby went away to the war, and Daisy settled for the very rich, Tom Buchanan. When Gatsby returned from the war, he worked to build his life, in hopes that Daisy would one day return to him. Gatsby was obsessed with money and the nice things that it could buy him, and he knew Daisy was too. He bought everything, including his mansion for her, dreaming of the day that they would live in it together. Gatsby constantly threw extravagant parties, with unlimited guests, entertainment and alcohol. Because everyone was so wealthy, no one worried about anything. All the people cared about was having a good time, so they drank a lot of liquor. Gatsby never drank, not because he was the host of the parties, but because he was busy watching carefully for Daisy in case she stopped by. …show more content…
In the hotel room, love is the reason they are fighting over Daisy. Gatsby has been in love with Daisy for so long, and has thought about her every day, and Tom claims he is in love with her, yet he is constantly involved with other women. Daisy married Tom, most likely for the wrong reasons. It is not clear who Daisy is truly in love with, even though she admits she has been in love with both men. She tells Gatsby that she is in love with him again, but when in front of Tom, cannot allow herself to admit how she feels. Daisy is really just in love with money, and convinces herself that as long she has money, she will be happy, which is not necessarily true. Daisy leaves the hotel room upset and confused on how she wants to spend the rest of her life, resulting in the tragic death of Myrtle. It is sad that Daisy is even considering staying with Tom, because it is hinted that she knows of the affairs. It is also sad that she is running from Gatsby after he has built his whole life for her. Love causes much tension, leaving Daisy very
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