What Is The Importance Of Materialism In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald strategically begins the novel by giving us insight into the narrator, Nick Carraway. After reading the first two chapters the reader has a good understanding of Nick Carraway and what his values are. The reader feels a connection to Nick, whose character is a stark contrast compared to the other characters introduced in the story. The characters in this story, specifically from East Egg, can be compared and contrasted to those from Camelot in our previous reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Fitzgerald’s brilliance is manifested in the first chapter by establishing a narrator in Nick Carraway who seems to be a man of great moral character. He mentions how his father’s advice that, “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one…just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that
In Camelot the queen sat on a platform with “costly silk curtains, a canopy over,/ Of Toulouse and Turkestan tapestries rich,/ all broidered and bordered with the best gems” (5.76-78). Daisy and Jordan, both East Eggers are wearing extravagant dresses and live in beautiful homes. Although both East Eggers and Camelot courtiers share a love for materialism they are very different personality-wise. Camelot courtiers such as Gawain are very dedicated to their code of chivalry and value chastity. This is found when Gawain refuses Lady Bertilak’s advance. On the other hand, Tom Buchanan cheats on Daisy with Myrtle Wilson even though Daisy knows it. In summary, Fitzgerald beginning with Nick Carraway telling us about his father’s advice serves a purpose to establish Nick as a credible and objective narrator. Nick comes off as a very likeable person unlike the characters introduced to us through the first two chapters. East Eggers and Camelot courtiers may seem alike physically, but morally they could not be more