The Effects of Wealth on Society Both F. Scott Fitzgerald and Lorraine Hansberry display the effects of having an obsession with wealth throughout their books: The Great Gatsby and A Raisin in the Sun. Having an obsession with wealth leads to personal corruption and a loss of moral values. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, takes place in upstate New York in the 1920’s. The story is narrated by a young man, named Nick Carraway, who works on wall street and lives in West Egg, next door to Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a millionaire, who earned most of his money through unconventional means, such as lying and scheming. Tom and Daisy Buchannan live across the water in East Egg. Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy were obsessed with wealth and more
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These characters lose their morals throughout the books as the idea of wealth takes over. “I tried to think about Gatsby then for a moment, but he was already too far away, and I could only remember, without resentment, that Daisy hasn’t sent a message or a flower,” (p.174). Nick explains in this quote that after Gatsby’s death, no one came to the funeral or sent flowers. This shows that no one actually cared for Gatsby, but just for his money. Not a single person from his parties mourned his death, except for Nick, his only friend. Even Daisy, who Gatsby believed to be the love of his life, only used him for his money. Nick is similar to Mama in A Raisin in the Sun because both acknowledge that there is more to life than money. They have seen the effects that wealth has on a person and how it corrupts their morals. “Well- we are dead now. All the talk about dreams and sunlight that goes on in this house. It’s all dead now,” (p.143). Beneatha believes that the family’s hopes and dreams are gone because they lost the money investment they had had. They are “dead” on the inside because they do not think they have anything left to hold onto. Hansberry shows using this quote how money can corrupt a person and uses Mama to explain to the others that happiness is not based on
These characters lose their morals throughout the books as the idea of wealth takes over. “I tried to think about Gatsby then for a moment, but he was already too far away, and I could only remember, without resentment, that Daisy hasn’t sent a message or a flower,” (p.174). Nick explains in this quote that after Gatsby’s death, no one came to the funeral or sent flowers. This shows that no one actually cared for Gatsby, but just for his money. Not a single person from his parties mourned his death, except for Nick, his only friend. Even Daisy, who Gatsby believed to be the love of his life, only used him for his money. Nick is similar to Mama in A Raisin in the Sun because both acknowledge that there is more to life than money. They have seen the effects that wealth has on a person and how it corrupts their morals. “Well- we are dead now. All the talk about dreams and sunlight that goes on in this house. It’s all dead now,” (p.143). Beneatha believes that the family’s hopes and dreams are gone because they lost the money investment they had had. They are “dead” on the inside because they do not think they have anything left to hold onto. Hansberry shows using this quote how money can corrupt a person and uses Mama to explain to the others that happiness is not based on