Money is often said to have the power to change someone, but ultimately it is the way money is chosen to be used that shapes one’s life. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, wealth is handled very differently by three of the characters. There’s Tom Buchanan who uses his wealth for power, Dan Cody who uses his wealth for pleasure, and Jay Gatsby who uses his wealth for the pleasure of others (particularly Daisy Buchanan). Gatsby may seem to be the most generous with his money, but in truth he is catering to his own desires too. Being “raised” in some part by Dan Cody would make it seem likely for Gatsby to greatly resemble him, but connections can be drawn from Gatsby to both Cody and Tom. As a matter of fact, Gatsby purposely decided to go against certain
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This one fact illustrates how Cody was more focused on enjoying a wealthy lifestyle while Gatsby desired to use his money as a way to put up a lavish façade. Cody shows off more of his trusting, soft side in his death where he leaves $25,000 to Gatsby. Gatsby needed more than this to keep his image alive though, so he pursued wealth even further. Gatsby’s reasoning for putting up such a front is where he starts to resemble Tom. Unlike Cody and Gatsby, Tom was simply born into his wealth and carries a sense of entitlement because of it. Tom is, as stated by Daisy, “…a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen…” (13). Taking this into consideration, it seems a bit odd to compare him to the well mannered gentleman Jay Gatsby, but the two both flaunt their wealth in an attempt to gain respect. For Tom this means buying expensive gifts for the women in his life, and for Gatsby this means regularly holding parties for practical strangers. That being the case, Tom still comes off as being more brash and controlling since he already “has” both Myrtle and Daisy. Gatsby had to use his money and
This one fact illustrates how Cody was more focused on enjoying a wealthy lifestyle while Gatsby desired to use his money as a way to put up a lavish façade. Cody shows off more of his trusting, soft side in his death where he leaves $25,000 to Gatsby. Gatsby needed more than this to keep his image alive though, so he pursued wealth even further. Gatsby’s reasoning for putting up such a front is where he starts to resemble Tom. Unlike Cody and Gatsby, Tom was simply born into his wealth and carries a sense of entitlement because of it. Tom is, as stated by Daisy, “…a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen…” (13). Taking this into consideration, it seems a bit odd to compare him to the well mannered gentleman Jay Gatsby, but the two both flaunt their wealth in an attempt to gain respect. For Tom this means buying expensive gifts for the women in his life, and for Gatsby this means regularly holding parties for practical strangers. That being the case, Tom still comes off as being more brash and controlling since he already “has” both Myrtle and Daisy. Gatsby had to use his money and