Examples Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby: Corruption of the American Dream The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrates how the desire for money and materialism compels the American dream to decay. Fitzgerald uses Tom and Daisy’s daughter, Gatsby’s bootlegging, and the sin of adultery to show the downfall of ideals during this time period. The Great Gatsby examines the collapse of society’s morals and values in their attempt to try and pursue the American dream. The ideal American family typically includes, at the very least, one child; however, Daisy shows that a child is merely treated like a trophy rather than someone to love and nurture. She conceals her daughter, Pammy, so well that upon her meeting with Gatsby, Pammy’s existence seems
surreal, resembling a figment of his imagination. “Gatsby and I in turn leaned down and took the small reluctant hand. Afterward he kept looking at the child with surprise. I don’t think he had ever really believed in its existence before” (123). Daisy also displays selfishness in her behavior towards Pammy. The idea that her daughter may look more like Tom than herself agitates her to the point where she ignores Pammy as she questions the whereabouts of her father. “‘Where’s Daddy?’ ‘She doesn’t look like her father,’ explained Daisy, ‘She looks like me. She’s got my hair and shape of the face’” (123). This shows how Daisy is ashamed to have Pammy be associated with Tom in any way. Daisy’s feeling of resentment toward Tom resulted from his lack of responsibility, as he did not attend the birth of his own daughter. Daisy sees this as Tom not being fully committed the father or husband role, and as a result, he further corrupts the American dream. Tom’s recklessness continues to be displayed throughout The Great Gatsby as an affair between him and Myrtle advances the destruction of the American dream. Tom’s view of Myrtle is strikingly similar to Daisy’s view of Pammy. Myrtle resembles an object to Tom, which he uses to boost his ego. Tom is aware that Myrtle will stay with him and admire him since he’s very wealthy unlike George and can provide Myrtle with anything, such as her dog. “‘I want to get one of those dogs,’ she said earnestly. ‘They’re nice to have—a dog’” (31). The progressivity of the affair is shown when the two of them eventually get their own apartment and ultimately destroy the aspect of faithfulness in a relationship. Another example of the downfall of the American dream is Gatsby’s bootlegging.
The way in which Gatsby goes about earning his money is fraudulent and immoral. “‘He [Gatsby] and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him and I wasn’t far wrong’” (141). Although bootlegging is illegal, Gatsby uses the money made to buy extravagant gifts for Daisy in order to win her love. Gatsby, being an incredible romantic, is determined to win Daisy back through displaying his material possessions; winning Daisy back is Gatsby’s main motivation and only goal. Gatsby’s grand mansion is an example of one lavish object, filled with an abundance of antiques and an awe-inspiring library. Daisy is simply overwhelmed as she sets her eyes on the magnificent mansion for the first time. “‘That huge place there?’ she cried pointing. ‘Do you like it?’ [Gatsby replied]’” (95). Daisy’s reaction to the mansion causes Gatsby to ask of her approval, since the mansion exists as the sole purpose for Daisy’s admiration. Gatsby fails to realize that although money can buy a vast amount of objects, money cannot buy true
love. Fitzgerald accentuates the decay of the American dream through the desire of money and materialism. Fitzgerald uses the setting of the 1920s because it was a time when the economy was booming and the wealthy were at their richest. He tries to bring awareness to the fall of the American dream through Daisy’s indifference towards her daughter, Gatsby’s illegal distribution of alcohol, and the multiple affairs taking place among the characters. Each character’s pursuit of happiness ends up being the instrument that ultimately cripples their dreams. All in all, Fitzgerald demonstrates how these characters destroy any possibility of achieving their own ultimate satisfaction.