The Pursuit of Wealth in The Great Gatsby Essay Example

Success is arguably the most valued emotion that people desire when pursuing a goal. Despite the apparent glory of achieving a goal, many people are often blind to the mental, emotional, and physical consequences that come from the feeling of success. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates the platform for economic, social, and often illegal activities during the summer of 1922. During this time, Nick Carraway is visiting his cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom, when he meets Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire. Gatsby has an obsession with having a luxurious lifestyle that covers up the social tensions that exist between people of inherited and acquired status, "old and new money." In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald explores how the characters sacrifice their morality and integrity to pursue a glamorized lifestyle of wealth and fulfillment which only leads to tragedy.

Materialism is considered a symbol of success, as many characters from the novel describe themselves through the amount of possessions they own. Fitzgerald acknowledges the materialistic nature of people in that “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry”(Fitzgerald 88). Society dictates that being in a state of poverty is undesirable, as wealth is one of the valued features of the American Dream. In addition, Fitzgerald explains highly that profit is so valued, an individual would sacrifice their morals in exchange for the smallest profitable opportunity. Thus, in order to secure their positions of status, various characters are seen taking extreme actions. Gatsby establishes his reputation in forms of extravagant parties at his large mansion as an indication he can host excessive events constantly  and through his clothes which consist of luxury material which he is able to import and supply.  In Pigeon’s article, “The Great Gatsby'' he also acknowledges materialism as a form of success when he explains, “striving for wealth has become a way for Americans to ease their consciences, while one's morality is of ten measured by the ability to acquire material possessions” (Pidgeon 3). Similar to the character of Gatsby, society uses money to flaunt extravagant materials in order to become accepted, which now has become the new mindset for people. Today wealth is seen as in the number of bags, shoes, and cars someone has instead of the saving of wealth and being humble. Therefore morals are being replaced through feelings of greed because of materialism causing society to show no remorse for the less fortunate. Ultimately because both Gatsby and society decide to focus on material items resulting in an obsession with owning luxury they are losing out in the meaning, kindness, and appreciation for life in all. 

 Moreover, the determination to use any and everything to secure a person’s goals necessarily brings about consequences. One of the most significant tragedies of the novel is Gatsby’s murder who, despite his efforts could not escape death. His death is primarily illustrated in his final thoughts, where he contemplates that “he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream”(Fitzgerald 161). One of the defining aspects of his character is his devotion to the idea of Daisy’s corresponding love. Prior to his death however, this dream slips away from him, as he grows painfully aware of the truths of reality. By chasing the illusion, Gatsby loses both Daisy’s affections and his previously-sacrificed ambitions for nothing. Through Gatsby’s death Nick witnesses Tom and Daisy not face any consequences for their action, as their actions are the reason for Gatsby's death. Nick, who scornfully remarks, “they were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made”(Fitzgerald 179).  Born of ‘old money’, Tom and Daisy are accustomed to their inherited privilege allowing them to live shallow lives. Agreeing to the idea that the upper class uses their privilege as an escape of consequences in Verderame’s article “ The American dream in The Great Gatsby” where she states, “however, the novel portrays the great financial disparity between the upper and lower classes of New York City and its environs—a setting that serves as a microcosm of the socioeconomic class distinctions that can be found throughout the United States” (Verderame 1). Both Nick and Verderame can see that social classes are very much real as people are treated differently. For instance people born into wealth lack the empathy and compassion for others, finding it hard to face punishment as their money always protects them. Whereas other individuals struggle to achieve the minimum yet their hard work will never be seen as they are not producing the large amounts of wealth to be accepted. Coming to the idea that people of the upper class can achieve their ambitions without having to face tragedy if they can avoid selfishness and unnecessary fight. 

Some may think morals are not lost when pursuing an extravagant lifestyle because of continuous humble actions like respect and acknowledging others. However, this is not true because people become out of touch with reality due to them deciding wealth and status is more important than keeping your morals and appreciating life. In the novel’s opening Nick shares the advice his father told him. “I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father snobbishly suggested, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth”(Fitzgerald 2). Although Nick’s father is upper class he demonstrates traits of a compassionate and smart man as he tries to explain to his son that even though wealth is assigned unequally to people, morals like kindness and empathy are more prominent in people since birth. Therefore, Nick should not judge people the way he does because he has more advantages than they do because of his father. Also, Nick’s father does not let his wealth get to his head as all people are born equal meaning wealth and status is not a factor for him to treat someone with respect. However throughout the novel, it becomes increasingly evident that individuals are viewed not only for the connections they offer, but as collectibles themselves. Demonstrating an ignorance towards her personal characteristics, Gatsby determines Daisy’s worth by her number of past suitors: “it excited him, too, that many men had already loved Daisy- it increased her value in his eyes” (Fitzgerald 149). Gatsby prizes Daisy as a possession because of how previous men desire to acquire her.  Making Daisy’s flirtatious skills praised as she had multiple lovers. Also it is the combination of Gatsby’s self-interest and a disregard for emotional welfare. Resulting in characters' continued mistreatment of one another leading to a diminished perspective on the value of human life.

The Great Gatsby explores how the characters pursuit of wealth results in neglection of their moral ethics and how the combination of these factors ultimately result in their downfall.  Therefore, lives are dictated through status and the insistent need to conform to society standards.  However, this desire to illustrate their worth through material goods and superficial relationships leads to a feeling of dissatisfaction. As Gatsby’s morbid realization prior to his death shows the severity of the inescapable present, Nick’s equally intense resolution is that they were sentenced to continually chase an unattainable dream. Coming to a final idea that the worship of wealth is neglect to a person’s true self.