In comparison to the people of the 1920s, both had been caught off guard by wealth, allowing it to control their lives and they ended up allowing it to control their lives. Though wealthy individuals are affected by their wealth, those who are not wealthy are also consumed by their wealth. Beyond the extravagant residence of Gatsby and Daisy lies the less appealing Valley of Ashes. The poverty-stricken area is described as, “a fantastic farm… where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and… of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air… the ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight.” (27). Consumed by the polluted air, those from the industrialized valley live in unpleasant conditions in comparison to the neighboring estates. To Fitzgerald, the Valley of Ashes is there as a symbol to juxtapose the differences between the laborers and consumers during the 1920s. Though those who produced products were not wealthy, they had to work at the pace of the high demands in order to make a …show more content…
After the fatal car accident, Nick arrives to Gatsby’s mansion to ensure that he was well prepared for the possible consequences of the crime. Instead of fleeing the situation, he insists on staying and then confesses his first encounters with Daisy to Nick. Though Gatsby knew that she was trouble and the effects of her, he still went for her; “Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves, of the freshness of many clothes and of Daisy gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor” (157). Gatsby prioritizes Daisy and her materialistic needs over the actual conflicts of those who are unfortunate. Although Gatsby knew the affects that wealth has on an individual, he continued to pursue his dreams despite the consequences of putting himself over the hot.The closer he comes to achieving his goals, the more he becomes enslaved into revolving his life around this lavish lifestyle. Though Daisy is not really a factor in this world, she is displayed amongst all the major problems of the world having Gatsby focus more on her than anything else. Just like people during the 1920’s Gatsby revolves his life around the luxuries rather than the effect that would happen if he did revolve his life around his luxuries. People are constantly spending their money despite the effects of it as it eventually led