Examples Of Greed In The Great Gatsby

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“Instead of loving people and using money, people often love money and use people” (Trotman np). Greed, regarding wealth, reoccurs thematically throughout the Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald incorporates the theme of the quotation throughout his didactic novel, the Great Gatsby. Societal members of the Great Gatsby appear, in many cases, excessively materialistic and poisoned with greed . Anything from exposing Gatsby’s pretentious parties to the culture of the 1920’s helps Fitzgerald advocate his wish for a less materialistic society. Author Fitzgerald conveys his desire for a less greedy society through the utilization of symbols and details with a materialistic connotation. Commencing on the topic of the author’s advocation for a …show more content…

For elaborative purposes, both the details of the West Egg and the East Egg and their citizens help the author’s advocation. West Egg residents, new to wealth, live very greedy and pretentious lives. Greed ends of consuming West Egg residents to such a degree that some of them do not fully understand communication signals from others. For example, when the Sloane’s hosted a dinner party, Gatsby could not see that they did not want him to attend their party. The reason that Gatsby made no connection of this subtle rejection appears that, since Gatsby had everything he desired, he assumed he possessed absolute entitlement to attend the Sloane’s dinner ( Fitzgerald 103). Through the details of the behavior of the West Egg resident’s, Gatsby proves that the materialism in U.S. society causes harm on residents. On the other hand, East Egg residents have their own issues regarding excessive greed. Take the Buchanan's, for example, Daisy reunited with Gatsby at Nick’s tea party. She appeared to fall back into love with Gatsby upon seeing all of his riches. Daisy did not love Gatsby for his true self, but more for his rich assets. The author of the Great Gatsby alarmed readers that excessive love of money destroys love and relationships between people. Therein lies evidence that author Fitzgerald desires a reformation of a less monetary-minded society. Another greed enriched detail, the way that Gatsby encounters his great fortune, assists with Fitzgerald's advocation for less greed within society. Many rumors exist throughout the Great Gatsby that Gatsby illegally bootlegs alcohol for his fortune; he does. F. Scott Fitzgerald explains to readers that since Gatsby possessed such a desire for wealth, he lied, cheated, and stole his way to his fortune. For his advocation of a reformation for a less greedy society, writer Fitzgerald alarms readers that

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1909 Words | 8 Pages
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1261 Words | 6 Pages
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995 Words | 4 Pages
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Examples Of Greed In The Great Gatsby