Emily Harris
Dr. Stapleton
September 15, 2014
Project 1
Benjamin Franklin once said “Money has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness." This is arguably one of the most cliché quotes of all time. If money cannot provide happiness, then what exactly can it do? The characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan open a door to a world in which money was the sole motivation for their success and the only reason for their power. When the reader uses a Marxist critical lens during chapter four of F. Scott's Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the social hierarchy reveals how Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan utilize the importance of money and social power to manipulate others in their lives. Through a Marxist …show more content…
Fitzgerald constantly reminds us of Gatsby's "nouveau riche" status, which is arguably the only truth we know about him at this moment in time. As Gatsby leaned against his car, Nick commented on his "resourcefulness of movement...that comes, [he] supposes, with the absence of lifting work or rigid sitting in youth" (64). Nick's comment can be seen as an automatic assumption that Gatsby never had to work for his money, that it was just handed down from his family. On the other hand, Nick attended college and had worked his entire life for his small earnings, therefore the comment somewhat exudes an underlying hint of jealousy or irritation for Gatsby's lack of work and real accomplishment. This is a perfect portrayal of the differences in their economic classes: working class versus the nouveau riche. Later in the chapter, we see how Gatsby utilizes his top position in society to his advantage. When the policeman pulls him over, Gatsby does not hesitate to "wave [a card] before the man's eyes" (68). The policeman then apologizes to Gatsby for his mistake, and this act of the policeman clearly exposes the corruption of the upper class. Gatsby's high ranking position in the social hierarchy of the town grants him special privileges that the lower classes are not lucky enough to have. These examples demonstrate the importance of Gatsby's standings in society and what his …show more content…
Daisy Fay, as described by Jordan, was "by far the most popular young girl in all of Louisville" (74). Daisy fell in love with Gatsby, a man not nearly as fortunate as her in regard to wealth and social class, and her mother "effectually prevented" her from running off to be with someone as plain as a soldier. After the incident, Daisy did not date any soldiers, but a few "short-sighted young men in town" (75). Although Daisy was in love with a man who treated her right and was extremely ambitious, her mother could not stand the thought of her being with someone that was a low rank in the social hierarchy of the town. Tom Buchanan, on the other hand, was just the opposite of Jay Gatsby. Tom "came down with a hundred people in four private cares, and hired a whole floor of the Seelbach Hotel..."(75). Money was not an object to Tom Buchanan, and he made that a well-known fact to Daisy when he gifted her a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar string of pearls that she threw in the trash because she "change' her mind" about marrying "whoever they belong to" (76). Daisy's drunken stupor during this part of the chapter reveals her inhibitions that she should not marry for money; she wanted to marry for the true love she had with Gatsby. Daisy sobered up and did what was expected of her: to marry the unbelievably wealthy Tom Buchanan. Before long, however, Tom begins to have
Dr. Stapleton
September 15, 2014
Project 1
Benjamin Franklin once said “Money has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness." This is arguably one of the most cliché quotes of all time. If money cannot provide happiness, then what exactly can it do? The characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan open a door to a world in which money was the sole motivation for their success and the only reason for their power. When the reader uses a Marxist critical lens during chapter four of F. Scott's Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the social hierarchy reveals how Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan utilize the importance of money and social power to manipulate others in their lives. Through a Marxist …show more content…
Fitzgerald constantly reminds us of Gatsby's "nouveau riche" status, which is arguably the only truth we know about him at this moment in time. As Gatsby leaned against his car, Nick commented on his "resourcefulness of movement...that comes, [he] supposes, with the absence of lifting work or rigid sitting in youth" (64). Nick's comment can be seen as an automatic assumption that Gatsby never had to work for his money, that it was just handed down from his family. On the other hand, Nick attended college and had worked his entire life for his small earnings, therefore the comment somewhat exudes an underlying hint of jealousy or irritation for Gatsby's lack of work and real accomplishment. This is a perfect portrayal of the differences in their economic classes: working class versus the nouveau riche. Later in the chapter, we see how Gatsby utilizes his top position in society to his advantage. When the policeman pulls him over, Gatsby does not hesitate to "wave [a card] before the man's eyes" (68). The policeman then apologizes to Gatsby for his mistake, and this act of the policeman clearly exposes the corruption of the upper class. Gatsby's high ranking position in the social hierarchy of the town grants him special privileges that the lower classes are not lucky enough to have. These examples demonstrate the importance of Gatsby's standings in society and what his …show more content…
Daisy Fay, as described by Jordan, was "by far the most popular young girl in all of Louisville" (74). Daisy fell in love with Gatsby, a man not nearly as fortunate as her in regard to wealth and social class, and her mother "effectually prevented" her from running off to be with someone as plain as a soldier. After the incident, Daisy did not date any soldiers, but a few "short-sighted young men in town" (75). Although Daisy was in love with a man who treated her right and was extremely ambitious, her mother could not stand the thought of her being with someone that was a low rank in the social hierarchy of the town. Tom Buchanan, on the other hand, was just the opposite of Jay Gatsby. Tom "came down with a hundred people in four private cares, and hired a whole floor of the Seelbach Hotel..."(75). Money was not an object to Tom Buchanan, and he made that a well-known fact to Daisy when he gifted her a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar string of pearls that she threw in the trash because she "change' her mind" about marrying "whoever they belong to" (76). Daisy's drunken stupor during this part of the chapter reveals her inhibitions that she should not marry for money; she wanted to marry for the true love she had with Gatsby. Daisy sobered up and did what was expected of her: to marry the unbelievably wealthy Tom Buchanan. Before long, however, Tom begins to have