Money and corruption in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" During the time in our country's history called the roaring twenties, society had a new obsession, money. Just shortly after the great depression, people's focus now fell on wealth and success in the economic realm. Many Americans would stop at nothing to become rich and money was the new factor in separation of classes within society. Wealth was a direct reflection of how successful a person really was and now became what many people strived to be, to be rich. Wealth became the new stable in the "American dream" that people yearned and chased after all their lives. In the novel entitled the great Gatsby, the ideals of the so called American dream became skewed, as a result
"The contrast between the lively debauchery and Gatsby's lonely isolation hints at the true purpose of the parties and the concealed nature of the man's passion." (Gibb, pg. 1) All of his lies and even the aspect of his life that are true all circle back to his desire and passion to be rich. His lies all create an alternate life and give his companion Nick Carraway and other a false identity of Jay Gatsby.
Not only has this corruption and obsession infected Gatsby, but this diseases has spread to other character as well. In an article entitled "possessions in the great Gatsby", the author Scott Donaldson states "Given an opportunity, Gatsby consistently errs in the direction of ostentation. His clothes, his car, his house, his parties-all brand him as newly rich, unschooled in the social graces and sense of superiority ingrained not only in Tom Buchanan but also in Nick Carraway." (Donaldson, pg. 2) The aspects of greedy and wealth at the heart of this novel, were not only buried in Gatsby's character, but one could say that this desire was shared. Nick Carraway moved all the way from the west to New York City in search of wealth in the Bond Business to quench his desires of wealth and fortune. Tom Buchanan, in essence foreshadowed how greed and wealth can skew ones own values corrupting morals. Myrtle, Tom's mistress let greed skew her morals as well thus ruining his marriage and let her jealous rage