Morality’s Debt: Analyzing Idealized Wealth in ‘The Great Gatsby’

What is the cost of success? Despite the superficial glory in achieving a goal, many are often blind to the physical, mental and emotional repercussions that may result from pursuing it. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a historical fiction novel. Taking place in the summer of 1922 at the fictional West and East Egg villages of Long Island, it is the dawn of the Jazz Age or Roaring Twenties, where elusive mystique provides the bustling platform for social, economic and often illicit activities. During his time visiting his cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom, bond salesman Nick Carraway encounters enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby; through whom, he is immersed in the glamorous world that masks the social struggles between those of inherited and acquired status, hence “old and new money”. The Great Gatsby explores how the characters sacrifice their moral ethics and integrity to pursue an idealized lifestyle of wealth, which in turn spurs their downfall.

Materialism is deemed a symbol of success, as many individuals from the novel define themselves by the amount of possessions at their disposal. Fitzgerald recognizes the acquisitive nature of the people in that “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry” (88). Society dictates that to be in a state of poverty is distasteful, as a stable income is one of the prized aspects of the American Dream. In addition, this strongly suggests that profit is so valued, one would willingly sacrifice their liberty and rights in exchange for the slightest lucrative opportunity. Thus, in order to secure their positions of status, various characters are seen taking drastic actions. Gatsby “bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths” in the form of extravagant parties: he used these lavish gatherings as a means of establishing his reputation (78). The use of this metaphor is also an indication that Gatsby could afford to freely host such excessive events. Furthermore, their pretentious manner is carried even into private encounters, as when Gatsby displays his “shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel” to Daisy (92). These clothes represent the high-quality luxuries he is able to import and supply. One may note that Gatsby chooses to court Daisy through his wealth, as opposed to…