Wealth In The Great Gatsby
In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald illustrates the destructions and immorality, caused by the unrestrained pursuit of wealth, through the symbolism of the village of ashes and Gatsby’s feelings for Daisy.
The valley of ashes in The Great Gatsby symbolize the negative byproducts of the endless pursuit of wealth during the 1920s. Although the Industrial Revolution brought countless technological advancements, the pollution and dumping from smokestacks and factories, responsible for the manufacturing of the new technology, led to the creation of the valley of ashes. The smokestacks and factories were the results of capitalism, a system which solely focuses on gaining wealth. The ashes represent the lifelessness of the “ash gray men” living …show more content…
in the valley, who lack real substance in their lives (27). Nick describes how the inhabitants of the area “move dimly and already crumbling [ed] through the powdery air” (27). The imagery reveals the fragility of the men whose life “crumbles” away due to the harsh life of making the rich richer and the blindness of the people who pass through the valley. They do not see the “ashes that take the forms of houses” for the beauty and ornamentation of East and West Egg prevent the people from realization. People take so little regards for the men who are fundamental to the economy and society that they end up resembling the “powdery air”—invisible (27). The allure of extravagant lifestyles, including those of East and West egg, conceal the grim, underbelly of society. The valley of ashes demonstrates the moral decay of human nature during the 1920s as a result of the uncontrolled pursuit of wealth and the poverty that existed in the shadows of the wealth.
In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby’s affection for Daisy was contaminated by his unrestrained pursuit of wealth.
For most of his life, Gatsby wished to obtain tremendous wealth; when he met Daisy, he found her “excitingly desirable” not only for her personal charm and looks but also because she was connected to a lifestyle he had always dreamed of. Daisy’s family owned the most “beautiful house” and Gatsby hoped he could acquire comparable wealth through his personal connection to Daisy (148). Due to Gatsby’s humble beginnings, there was “always [an] indiscernible barbed wire” that created a social barrier between the wealthy old money and himself. However, Daisy was different in that she acknowledged Gatsby’s presence. Her old money status offered him a shortcut to the economic and social status he had always dreamed of. Gatsby later confesses to Nick: “What was the use of doing great things if I could have a better time telling her what I was going to do?” In other words, Gatsby felt there was not a need for real world ambitions if he could win over Daisy and receive what he always wanted. Gatsby’s greater affection for Daisy’s economic and social value rather than Daisy as a person displays the decay of his moral values. Gatsby’s morality was obscured by the enticing façade of the American
dream.
The valley of ashes in The Great Gatsby symbolize the negative byproducts of the endless pursuit of wealth during the 1920s. Although the Industrial Revolution brought countless technological advancements, the pollution and dumping from smokestacks and factories, responsible for the manufacturing of the new technology, led to the creation of the valley of ashes. The smokestacks and factories were the results of capitalism, a system which solely focuses on gaining wealth. The ashes represent the lifelessness of the “ash gray men” living …show more content…
in the valley, who lack real substance in their lives (27). Nick describes how the inhabitants of the area “move dimly and already crumbling [ed] through the powdery air” (27). The imagery reveals the fragility of the men whose life “crumbles” away due to the harsh life of making the rich richer and the blindness of the people who pass through the valley. They do not see the “ashes that take the forms of houses” for the beauty and ornamentation of East and West Egg prevent the people from realization. People take so little regards for the men who are fundamental to the economy and society that they end up resembling the “powdery air”—invisible (27). The allure of extravagant lifestyles, including those of East and West egg, conceal the grim, underbelly of society. The valley of ashes demonstrates the moral decay of human nature during the 1920s as a result of the uncontrolled pursuit of wealth and the poverty that existed in the shadows of the wealth.
In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby’s affection for Daisy was contaminated by his unrestrained pursuit of wealth.
For most of his life, Gatsby wished to obtain tremendous wealth; when he met Daisy, he found her “excitingly desirable” not only for her personal charm and looks but also because she was connected to a lifestyle he had always dreamed of. Daisy’s family owned the most “beautiful house” and Gatsby hoped he could acquire comparable wealth through his personal connection to Daisy (148). Due to Gatsby’s humble beginnings, there was “always [an] indiscernible barbed wire” that created a social barrier between the wealthy old money and himself. However, Daisy was different in that she acknowledged Gatsby’s presence. Her old money status offered him a shortcut to the economic and social status he had always dreamed of. Gatsby later confesses to Nick: “What was the use of doing great things if I could have a better time telling her what I was going to do?” In other words, Gatsby felt there was not a need for real world ambitions if he could win over Daisy and receive what he always wanted. Gatsby’s greater affection for Daisy’s economic and social value rather than Daisy as a person displays the decay of his moral values. Gatsby’s morality was obscured by the enticing façade of the American
dream.