Abuse Of Power In The Great Gatsby

In the following books: “To Kill A Mockingbird”, and The Great Gatsby, the role of power and oppression on the characters have been dominant for some but absent in others. Those in power are usually shown to exert their control over various individuals or groups, while those being oppressed are not only being impacted physically but also emotionally. Though power can be evil sometimes, it can also be used for the good and innocent in life. Atticus once said, “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

Within the novel, The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, stars Jay Gatsby, who’s immense wealth gives him the power to pursue Daisy, his one and only love. Gatsby uses his financial power to throw extravagant parties to try to belong among the social elite, which Nick at the time did not realize was all an illusion to secretly capture Daisy’s attention. At this point, Daisy is still engaged to Tom

In Chapter 9 of the novel, Scout’s father and also a wise lawyer, Atticus, is asked to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white women. Knowing it is a case he cannot win, Atticus still accepts it, believing it is the right thing to do. Eventually, Atticus’s efforts proved Tom’s innocence, but the jury still found him guilty. Bob Ewell, the man who accused Tom, used his power as a white man in the community to oppress Tom Robinson due to the fact he was black and just happened to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time. Atticus on the other hand, also has power in the community as a lawyer but uses it in an attempt to save an innocent man’s life. This is a great example demonstrating that power isn’t only used to oppress individuals and groups and can also be used to liberate