Introduction
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal novel The Great Gatsby, wealth acts as both a liberating force and a corrupting influence for the characters. Money provides freedom and opportunity for some, while fostering greed and dissolution in others. The extremes of wealth depicted in the glittering mansions of the old-money set and the raucous revelries of the nouveau riche serve to highlight the complex role of affluence in 1920s America. This essay will examine how Fitzgerald employs wealth as a means to develop character and theme in The Great Gatsby. By portraying the lavish lifestyles and tragic downfalls of Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, and others, Fitzgerald brilliantly illustrates the complex duality of wealth, creating a lasting portrait of aspiration, excess, and disillusionment in the Jazz Age.
Fitzgerald's Exploration of Wealth in 1920s America
Wealth and its effects have long been a focal point of literature, from the social novels of Jane Austen to the capitalist critiques of Mark Twain. With the economic boom and conspicuous consumption of the Roaring Twenties, Fitzgerald joined a tradition of exploring affluence in America. Through novels like The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald provided cutting social commentary on the class divides and indulgences of the era. In particular, Fitzgerald highlighted the tension between new and old money, as well as the hollowness of lavish living. Scholars have analyzed Fitzgerald's nuanced portrayal of wealth as both alluring and destructive. His masterful use of wealth as a literary device continues to resonate with modern audiences disenchanted by material excess.
Wealth as the Key to Gatsby's Dreams
A key function of wealth in The Great Gatsby is its ability to grant Jay Gatsby access to his dreams. As an impoverished young man, James Gatz reinvents himself as the wealthy Jay Gatsby. Only with money is Gatsby able to buy his lavish mansion across from Daisy Buchanan and attempt to win her love. As critic John Doe notes, “Gatsby’s extraordinary wealth provides him with the means to fulfill his vision of an ideal life" (Source). His boundless optimism and ambition are fueled by his newfound riches, allowing him to throw extravagant parties and buy symbols of an upper class lifestyle. Gatsby believes wholeheartedly in the promise of economic mobility. However, this reliance on money as the key to happiness and status ultimately contributes to Gatsby's undoing.
Old Money and Moral Corruption in the Buchanans
In contrast to Gatsby’s self-made fortune, old money instead corrodes the morals of the established rich in The Great Gatsby. Nowhere is this more apparent than with Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Living lavishly on inherited wealth in their East Egg mansion, the Buchanans exemplify the idle decadence of the era. Their lives revolve around extravagant parties and frivolous leisure activities that leave them morally bankrupt. As critic Jane Doe argues, “For the old money set, wealth breeds callousness and infidelity" (Source). Tom’s affairs and Daisy’s fatal hit-and-run of Myrtle reveal their careless disregard for others. Their affluence shelters them from consequences, allowing recklessness and dissolution to flourish. Fitzgerald uses the Buchanans’ wealth not as a means to attain dreams, but as a moral failing warping their character.
Wealth as an Amplifier of Character
Some argue, however, wealth itself does not necessarily corrupt in The Great Gatsby, but merely amplifies the inner values of each character. They contend that Gatsby’s wealth allows his virtuous side to thrive, while the Buchanans’ cruel natures are only emboldened by their riches. However, Fitzgerald makes clear wealth itself has moral repercussions, no matter one's disposition. For Gatsby, newfound affluence leads him to become controlling and ruthless in his quest for Daisy, resulting in hubris and heartbreak. Though poverty stunted his early dreams, unlimited wealth ultimately fosters obsession. Fitzgerald seems to argue that money inherently alters perspectives and priorities, even circumventing normal ethics. Both the idealistic strivers and the jaded elite in The Great Gatsby wind up distorted by the influence of riches.
Conclusion
Through the lens of diverse characters, Fitzgerald provides social commentary in The Great Gatsby that wealth can both liberate and corrupt. Gatsby’s lavish expenditures provide him the means to reinvent himself, but also foster obsession. The Buchanans’ extravagance exposes their callousness instead of bringing contentment. Fitzgerald’s nuanced portrayal reveals the complex duality of affluence – its allure and destructive force. Eighty years later, Fitzgerald’s novel still resonates in its examination of the American Dream and the double-edged sword of prosperity. The timeless message of The Great Gatsby continues to capture the public imagination not simply as a morality tale, but as insightful social history holding up a mirror to money’s influence even now.
