The Great Gatsby
American Lit.
Essay
The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Five characters are introduced to us as they go through life in New York. The narrator, Nick Carraway; the main character, Jay Gatsby; Tom’s wife, Daisy Buchanan; Daisy’s husband, Tom Buchanan; and Jordan Baker, the tennis player. These characters spend money that doesn't need to be spent, drink way too much, perform meaningless actions to make themselves happy, and are careless. This novel shows the culture of dissipation in the 1920's of society.
Dissipation is shown through heavy drinking. In chapter two, the host drinks to the point where she start to say things, that gets her in a bloody mess. " ‘Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!,’ shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘I'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai-----.’ ‘Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand,’ (37).” In chapter four, drinking helps drown out the sorrow feelings of one’s mind. “.... as drunk as a monkey, she had a bottle of Sauterne in one hand and a letter in the other... She groped around in a waste-basket....pulled out the string of pearls...‘Tell ‘em Daisy change’ her mine...’ (76).’’ Basically, Daisy over drink, after reading the letter that she got, and has thrown the pearl necklace in the trash, because of what was said in that letter. The novel shows dissipation, but it also shows wasteful expenditure.
Wasteful expenditure is when a person spends money that doesn't need to be spent. In chapter two, Tom spends his money on Myrtle (his lady mistress), “....Here’s your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.” (28). Gatsby spends his money, on a torn dress even though it wasn't his fault. “When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address–inside of a week I got a package from Croirier's with a new evening gown in it...Two hundred and sixty-five dollars."(43). Gatsby buys books, but never read them. “He waved his hand toward the
Essay
The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Five characters are introduced to us as they go through life in New York. The narrator, Nick Carraway; the main character, Jay Gatsby; Tom’s wife, Daisy Buchanan; Daisy’s husband, Tom Buchanan; and Jordan Baker, the tennis player. These characters spend money that doesn't need to be spent, drink way too much, perform meaningless actions to make themselves happy, and are careless. This novel shows the culture of dissipation in the 1920's of society.
Dissipation is shown through heavy drinking. In chapter two, the host drinks to the point where she start to say things, that gets her in a bloody mess. " ‘Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!,’ shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘I'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai-----.’ ‘Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand,’ (37).” In chapter four, drinking helps drown out the sorrow feelings of one’s mind. “.... as drunk as a monkey, she had a bottle of Sauterne in one hand and a letter in the other... She groped around in a waste-basket....pulled out the string of pearls...‘Tell ‘em Daisy change’ her mine...’ (76).’’ Basically, Daisy over drink, after reading the letter that she got, and has thrown the pearl necklace in the trash, because of what was said in that letter. The novel shows dissipation, but it also shows wasteful expenditure.
Wasteful expenditure is when a person spends money that doesn't need to be spent. In chapter two, Tom spends his money on Myrtle (his lady mistress), “....Here’s your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.” (28). Gatsby spends his money, on a torn dress even though it wasn't his fault. “When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address–inside of a week I got a package from Croirier's with a new evening gown in it...Two hundred and sixty-five dollars."(43). Gatsby buys books, but never read them. “He waved his hand toward the