Examples Of Moral Decay In The Great Gatsby

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Societal stance is a predetermined construct and thus leads individuals to act in ways that will influence their social mobility. Encompassed by the desire for a home, family life, and work, the American dream is the driving force behind an individual's actions and is a defining characteristic of the 1920s. Society’s moral decay is clearly shown throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby and these actions take place in a handful of ways in every social class. The separation of classes between old money, new money and no money builds on the idea of moral decay in society through Myrtle Wilson’s attempts to move up in social class, Jay Gatsby’s delusions of reinventing himself to do the same, and Jordan Baker as well as the Buchanans …show more content…
The moral decay in society he demonstrates comes abouts as a result of his fascination with his image and reinventing himself all in hope to elevate his social status and land his lost love, Daisy. The first example of his fascination with image and desire for Daisy’s love is shown in relation to the parties he throws. Initially, all the people Nick meet only recall the parties thrown by the estranged Gatsby in West Egg. Nick, living next door, states “On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight” (Fitzgerald, 39). As we know, these parties are thrown to attract the attention of Daisy, yet indirectly. Seeing and hearing about these parties thrown by Gatsby lead to talk about him and, in his mind, the hopeful admiration then attendance of Daisy. This glimpse into the wildly extravagant lifestyle Jay Gatsby leads demonstrates how attentive he is to perfectly cultivating the “wealthy” image for Daisy’s attention. Another prominent example of Jay Gatsby’s fixation on his past with Daisy arises after their first interaction together at Nick's house. Wanting for things to be the way they were before he went to war, leaving Daisy to married Tom, Gatsby does everything he thinks will aid his appeal to Daisy. Among the commotion, Nick tries to talk sense by
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