The Role Of Capitalism In The Great Gatsby

Without a strong moral backbone, a person with such a vast amount of money, like Tom, may adopt a corrupted mindset as their wealth clouds their vision and people become more and more like objects to them, as opposed to individuals who deserve to be treated with respect. Therefore, Tom’s overly domineering and abusive character may be interpreted as a symbol of how low one who has embraced the wealth brought about by consumer capitalism can sink without having sufficient morals to guide them to use their wealth responsibly. Though he used his money to shower Myrtle with many gifts, it does not erase the truth, which is that these actions were part of a grander scheme meant to keep his possession submissive and under his control, which is immoral and manipulative. He was akin to a greed-filled tyrant oppressing those under his thumb, or rather, a fictional reflection of real life people that stand in the way of others achieving their versions of the American dream, who twist the meaning of what it is to truly be wealthy and …show more content…
This superficial pattern of thinking leads individuals to believe that they are above reproach for their selfish actions, such as Gatsby and Daisy, who were also having an affair. Gatsby’s vain egocentrism, which had a strong link to his glamorous and party throwing persona, reached its climax in the novel when he shouted at Tom, “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!” (Fitzgerald 130). The ensuing chaos caused by those reckless words brought down the consequences of his and Daisy’s selfish actions upon their heads, reflecting how such arrogance can have disastrous consequences on real life