Rich and Sad (The Great Gatsby Book Analysis)

Wealth is something many chase in life. In The Great Gatsby many of the characters are wealthy beyond imagination. Some of the characters live in the East egg of New York, this area is more exclusive and where the old money set live. The setting of the book is important because it indicates the financial and societal status of the characters. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses setting as a structural element to aid in the development of the theme, “money doesn’t always promise satisfaction and happiness in life”. A lot of the characters, like Jay Gatsby, are rich, but don’t have what truly makes them happy and content. The main settings of the book include the East egg, The West egg, the Valley of Ashes, and New York City. 

Jay Gatsby is an important character that lives in the West egg, he is Nick's neighbor. Although he is rich, he was not born into wealth. When Nick compares the East and West egg he calls the West egg “the least fashionable of the two”. Since Gatsby lives in a mansion in the West Egg it is apparent that he is rich, but he did not inherit his wealth. It seems like Gatsby lives a great life. He has a lavish lifestyle and throws extravagant parties, yet Gatsby cannot get the one thing he truly wants. He is in love with Daisy Buchanan, a married woman. Gatsby cares so much about Daisy that he tries to rekindle their relationship through her cousin Nick. To show Gatsby befriending Nick, Fitzgerald writes, “I was one of the few guests who had ever been invited. People were not Invited, they went there” (Fitzgerald 41). This quote refers to Gatsby’s parties and how he never invited people, they just showed up. Gatsby made an exception for Nick, because he is Daisy’s cousin. He knew that he could get to Daisy through Nick. 

Daisy is the woman that is sought after by Gatsby. Daisy Buchanan lives in the affluent East Egg with her husband Tom, and their daughter. From the outside Daisy and Tom seem to have the perfect relationship and life. The truth is that Daisy and Tom are not happy in their marriage. Their marriage is filled with infidelity, and money is what is holding it together. When Jordan Baker, Daisy's best friend, is speaking to Nick it is revealed that Daisy had uncertainty about marrying Tom on the night before her wedding. To explain this Jordan says, “She began to cry, she cried and cried” (Fitzgerald 76). Daisy was crying on the night before her wedding, and they certainly were not tears of joy.  This shows how just because Daisy is a wealthy woman that lives in the East egg, her life and marriage were not perfect.

Gatsby was only known as the man who threw opulent parties to most people. At the end of the book when Gatsby dies no one attends his funeral except for his father, Nick, and the strange owl-eyed man. Even the woman that Gatsby loved didn’t acknowledge his death. “Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower” (Fitzgerald 174). Most of the people who lived in the west egg made their money illegally or in ways that were seen as inappropriate. Even though Gatsby acquired great wealth he was not acknowledged by many because he was new money. This is an example of how being rich was not everything, and some things you just couldn’t buy. Gatsby could not buy social status or Daisy’s love, and Daisy couldn’t buy a perfect marriage. To convey Nick’s sympathy for Gatsby at his funeral, Fitzgerald writes, “After that I felt a certain shame for Gatsby, one gentleman to whom I telephoned implied that he had got what he deserved.” (Fitzgerald 169). Gatsby’s life was tragic because it was short and meaningless, he spent his whole life chasing an unrealistic idea of love.

The Valley of Ashes is where the lower class live, it symbolizes poverty and despair. It is a place that is meant to represent the dark side of wealth and the social decay it can cause. It is a perfect example of how being too consumed with wealth can cause selfishness and it will hurt others. The Valley of Ashes reflects the selfish nature of the rich. The people that live in The Valley of Ashes have no sense of vitality because they live amongst ashes and their struggles are ignored by the more fortunate.

The Great Gatsby is a book that shows the truth about wealth through setting, happiness and satisfaction are not guaranteed when you’re wealthy. For Gatsby, money can't buy him love or status. As for Daisy and Tom, their unhappy marriage cannot be mended with money. The Great Gatsby also gives readers a glimpse into the consequences of self indulgence and wealth through The Valley of Ashes. Setting is an important structural element in The Great Gatsby because it tells the stories of the characters.