Examples Of Money In The Great Gatsby

Throughout The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the concept of money to reveal a side of human nature that is not all that great. Everyone in the novel possesses wealth, but each uses his money in a similar way: to make himself or another happy. However, within the holding of money comes a fickle feeling in the beholder which cannot keep him content. The characters in The Great Gatsby exhibit a strong desire for money as satisfaction in their lives. Daisy is a powerful example of this. When Gatsby took Nick and Daisy on a tour of his house, he threw all of his shirts around, and Daisy began to cry because they were “such beautiful shirts” (92). Daisy was jealous that she was not a part of Gatsby’s life and wealth. Daisy and Gatsby had wanted to get married at one point, but Daisy wanted him to become wealthy first. Her want for money overpowered her love for Gatsby. Gatsby, on the other hand, did want money, but he wanted it so that Daisy would want him. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us [. . .] to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . .” (180). Gatsby had hope that, by making money, he would get to be with the love of his life. He worked hard to …show more content…
In one particular scene of the novel, the word “happiness” is replaced with “money.” Gatsby tells Nick that Daisy’s “voice is full of money,” and Nick goes on to explain that Gatsby’s comparison makes so much sense because Daisy’s voice is charming and warm and peaceful (120). Her voice made people feel happy, just as they thought money did. In another scene, after meeting Daisy at Nick’s house, Gatsby knew Daisy would be happy to be reminded of his wealth. He invited Daisy to join him on a tour of his mansion (89). All Gatsby wanted was to make Daisy happy with him, but the only way to do that was by becoming rich since Daisy felt that she had to have money to be