Free Research Paper About Love And Money In “The Great Gatsby”

Materialism used to be one of common themes of the modernist era when F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Great Gatsby”. Economy was flourishing and people believed that they can do anything with the money. There was a wide sense in the society that money brings happiness and relations are secondary. This paper proposes a discussion on why money used to play an important role in the 1920s and how author elaborates it in his book “The Great Gatsby”.
The book Great Gatsby does not provide definition of true love, however, it claims that true love does not exist in materialistic world. During 1920s moral values of Americans were crumbling and their goal was to achieve success. The author effectively displays the changing form of love and how love was distorted due to materialistic things and success. Love relationship shown among lead characters such as Daisy and Gatsby, Tome & Myrtle, Tome & Daisy, and Wilson & Myrtle were some forms of distorted love (Fitzgerald).
Gatsby went for the war and in his absence Daisy got married to Tom. However, their relationship i.e. Gatsby and Daisy was restored after various efforts made by Gatsby. Gatsby organized lavish parties just to impress Daisy. Gatsby used materialistic possessions to lure Daisy as her was aware that these possessions will bring her back him. Gatsby loved Daisy but Daisy love for him changed. She returned to Gatsby only because for his possessions and wealth (Fitzgerald).
Another failed relationship described in the book was affair took place between Myrtle and Tom Buchanan. Their relationship and affair was based on dishonesty and exploitation. Tom gets involved into relationship with Myrtle just for sexual pleasure and offered Myrtle expensive gifts and money in return. The relationship between Myrtle and Wilson was also not pure. The book clearly shows actual picture of 1920s when people were going to any length to get wealth.
Fitzgerald may not have clearly mentioned about American Dream but his book, but his story and themes were certainly inspired by the American Dream. The main character of the book Jay Gatsby was born in poor family, and became millionaire with huge home, servants, and elite social lifestyle. Gatsby was a self made man who created his wealth and social success (Pidgeon). Gatsby success and his past clearly depict the American Dream. The book presents a transition period when things were not like old were. Opening lines of the book says by Gatsby reflect double vision of that time
“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. “Whenever you feel like criticising any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald, p. 1).
The story of The Great Gatsby depicts culture adopted by wealthy Americans. Gatsby lifestyle showcases excessive wealth and forced consumerism, which were key aspects of American Dreams. Gatsby through the story does not leave any opportunity to showcase his wealth. His gaudy dresses, car, and huge mansion were reflection of his wealth (Tunc). Gatsby used to through parties just to showcase his wealth even when his is not interested in these parties. People used to attend party without even meeting him and knowing much about him. This was depicted in the lines “I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house, I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited—they went there” (Fitzgerald, p. 38).
The story of the book was more revolved around creation and exhibitions of wealth even in pure relationship such as love. The author also displays a difference between lifestyle of people who owned wealth since beginning and who achieved it by themselves. Gatsby and Tom both have wealth but Gatsby was more into display of wealth by using cars and throwing parties. On other hand, Tome was using horses and living in good but yet simple house. When it comes to love Tom was involved into disloyal love relationships, whereas, Gatsby was truly in love with Daisy. He deployed his hard efforts to restore his relationship with the daisy.
After observing relation of love and money in “The Great Gatsby” and author’s interpretation of the same, the paper concludes that the author has presented this subject in a very realistic manner. The author presents mindset of people in contemporary era and describes how they preferred money over love and other relations. Society was changing and criterions of success were also redefined. People used to believe that they could do anything with the money and their American dream was confined to consumerism and their own interpretations of priorities.

Works Cited

Fitzgerald, F.Scott. The Great Gatsby. London, UK: Interactive Media, 2012.
Pidgeon, John A. "The Great Gatsby." Modern Age 49.2 (2007): 178.
Tunc, Tanfer Emin. "The Great Gatsby." Bloom, Harold and Blake Hobby. The American Dream. New York, Ny: Infobase Publishing, 2009. 67-80.