How Does Fitzgerald Present The Theme Of Wealth In The Great Gatsby

During the 1920’s, the United States economy was booming. People were living lavishly with their cars, parties, and mansions. F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the lifestyle of people with immense wealth during the 1920’s in his novel, The Great Gatsby. Along with the money, comes characters detached from society. The people with wealth are often rude, ungrateful, and lack the knowledge of how to treat people respectfully. True happiness is an unattainable goal for the characters with immense wealth, because they are always left wanting something more. The characters in The Great Gatsby are consumed by wealth, yet their money doesn’t give them morality or happiness. Tom’s vulgar behaviors towards people reveal the flaws in his character even with his extensive wealth. Tom uses his brute force on Daisy and Myrtle instead of acting like a civilized man. Tom uses his force with “a short deft movement” and “[breaks] her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald 37). Most well-mannered people would not use physical force to show their emotions, yet Tom did. This portrays how Tom’s life filled with financial prosperity didn’t teach him how to treat people in tough situations. Another way Tom displays a lack of satisfaction with life is in his relationship with Myrtle. Although Tom “love[s] Daisy too” he still will “go off on a spree” with Myrtle (Fitzgerald 131). Tom has what most thought of as the American dream with the dream girl and loads …show more content…
Wealth is a part of all the characters lives, but it does not fulfill their needs for love and joy. Tom is abusive and uncivil towards others with money. Myrtle degrades others and is unhappy when she is without money. Gatsby is unhappy without his love even when he has money. These characters have all the wealth they need, yet don’t have the happiness or morality they need in the novel, The Great