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How Does Wealth Affect The Great Gatsby

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The impact of great wealth is first seen through the character of Nick Carraway, the narrator and Gatsby’s neighbor. Nick is thrown into a world of money, parties, and lavish lifestyle when he moves next door to Gatsby on Long Island in the summer of 1922. Coming from Minnesota after fighting in World War I and attending Yale, Nick Carraway is a kind-hearted, open-minded man. He comes to New York to sell bonds and settles in next door to Gatsby’s mansion. Gatsby’s lifestyle is exhilarating to Carraway. Soon after moving in, he’s invited to his first, infamous Gatsby party: I had actually been invited. A chauffeur in a uniform of robin’s-egg blue crossed my lawn early that Saturday morning with surprisingly formal note from his employer: the honor would be entirely …show more content…

Gatsby longs for Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s cousin, who Gatsby met years before. Without Daisy, Gatsby has been living a lonely life. He continues to hope to one day see Daisy, and for her to fall for him again. Understanding this, Carraway feels bad for Gatsby, but also confused. Why does such a wealthy, charming man spend his whole life pining after some girl he met five years ago? As their summer continues, Carraway learns the truth behind Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan’s relationship and helps them meet again. But Gatsby’s sadness does not disappear. Carraway understands that the power and luxuriousness of great wealth isn’t always good. He admires Gatsby for his effort at a happy, perfect life, but underneath it all Carraway sees the loneliness and self-hatred Gatsby feels. Secondly, the effect of great wealth is also illustrated through Daisy Buchanan, the object of Gatsby’s love and affection. Gatsby had met Daisy five years earlier and has loved her since. But in the past five years, Daisy has married Tom Buchanan and given birth to a young daughter. While Daisy was getting married and moving to East Egg, Long Island, Gatsby has been yearning after her and hoping she would show up to one of his

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