Essay, Research Paper: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was influenced by eastern society during the roaring 20’s. He portrays his knowledge of eastern morality in the novel The Great Gatsby. In The Great Gatsby the corruptive effect of wealth is the cause of the most conflict regarding the morals of Nick Caraway and the morals of Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Jay Gatsby.
Daisy Buchanan has a very little moral value for herself and others. She is very careless. These low morals show throughout many parts in the story. For instance, her attitude toward Jay Gatsby – she doesn’t want him for what he is, but for the superficial illusion of what he is. The ultimate act of carelessness by Daisy, however, is the violent death of Myrtle. Daisy never thought twice about the night she hit Myrtle with the car, and never looked back. She never even bothered to tell Tom the truth that she was driving the car, not Gatsby. They move away before Gatsby is even dead.
Tom Buchanan is so much like Daisy, which is why they will never be separated from each other. Tom Buchanan’s outlook is much like Daisy’s, Tom cares only for himself. Tom believes that cheating on his wife is perfectly normal. This is a very prominent example of Tom Buchanan’s low Morals. Tom views Daisy as a possession rather than a person. Tom did not marry Daisy because he loved her. He married her for her beauty, as a prize, to show that he had the best of everything.
The low morals of Jordan Baker are what hurt Nick the most. Although Nick realizes he will never be with Jordan, he still has his hopes. He knows that Jordan’s “wealthy morals” will not allow this. Jordan can never be with Nick simply because she is rich and Nick doesn’t have money. Rich girls don’t marry poor boys.
Jay Gatsby’s actions conflict with his morals. Gatsby’s fortune did not come from “old money.” Most of his fortune was obtained trough illegal activities. This conflicts with how Jay portrays his morals. He portrays himself as being morally sound, but throughout the book Nick can sense the reality of Gatsby. Gatsby’s affair with Daisy also conflicts heavily with his moral values. He feels he is doing the right thing, but at the same time he feels guilty about what he is doing. Although Gatsby is rich, he has poor person morals. He doesn’t believe he is indestructible and that he has the right to do what ever he wants, like the rich do. This shows in Gatsby’s uneasiness while around Tom. Unlike Tom’s uncaring attitude toward George Wilson. Tom doesn’t care what happens to George Wilson. He only wants his wife.
Nick Caraway is the most morally sound out of all the characters. Nick does not have the careless attitude of Daisy, Tom, and Jordan. Nick’s unwealthy lifestyle is the main support for his strong morals. Nick has a very hard time living in the east, because of its grotesque carelessness. This is the reason for Nick’s move back to the Midwest. When confronted by Tom in Chicago, Nick is confused on how to treat him. Nick thinks Tom knows Daisy was driving the car when they killed Myrtle, but after talking to Tom, he realizes Daisy never told Tom that she was driving Gatsby’s car.
Wealth is one of the Main factors in deciding a person’s morality. The Great Gatsby portrays this reasoning to the fullest, with the contrast between Nick Caraway’s morals, and the morals of Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Jay Gatsby.


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