Corruption of the Rich Based on the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Corruption of the rich based on The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Written during the roaring twenties, a time when individuals felt the need to surpass the ideals of the American Dream, F. Scott Fitzgerald's renowned novel, The Great Gatsby, explores how wealth ultimately leads to corruption within a society. In his novel Fitzgerald displays situations that may be invoked by the theme; individuals will most likely show signs of corruption as they come into wealth.

If there is one character easily pointed out as showing signs of corruption brought on by wealth, it would be Tom Buchanan. Throughout the novel nick defines tom as an arrogant character by putting emphasis on his demeaning manor and his inability to respect anyone but himself. Some may argue that Tom’s football days and his physical size may add to the arrogant nature associated with Tom. However in the comments made about him by Nick and by the comments made himself it is made clear that the power of money has blocked his sight of everything but himself and what makes him happy. This wealth has also corrupted Daisy, who stays with Tom because of his wealth and the lifestyle she has become accustomed to, although Tom treats her very poorly. Tom treats Daisy as material possession along with the woman he is having an affair with. “He displays his mistress in much the same way as he parades his horses, almost as if he believes her to be his property” (Carey 21). Together Tom and Daisy made a

despicable duo. An example of this is exhibited when Nick states "they were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to 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..." (188).

In contrast to the manner in which Tom is defined, Gatsby is pictured as a kind hearted man who lives for nothing but his love and devotion for Daisy. However in his quest for the woman he loves, he has turned to illegal means to acquire his immense fortune. Gatsby has spent his whole life bootlegging and maybe even performing actions with the mafia in order to develop a wealth, not for himself, but only in order to impress a woman who he believes is only interested in wealth. This is confirmed when Gatsby states “Her voice is full of money” (127) when they are looking at expensive shirts. Jonathan Fortescue proposes that Daisy is with Tom because “His affluence is more attractive to her than any of his other traits” (Fortescue 17). Gatsby is somehow so immensely taken back by Daisy that he fails to recognize how shallow she must be if money means everything to her.

Many times the power of wealth also comes with the characteristic of being careless or somewhat irresponsible because of the fact that the wealthy can use their money to get them out of trouble. For instance if they break object or are the cause of something getting ruined, they can just as easy reach into their pockets to obtain the means by which a brand new one of the items can be purchased. It is easy to see that Daisy fits this stereotype perfectly along