Theme Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby

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Corrupt means “having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain” (Dictionary). In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby is a morally corrupt figure that we should distance ourselves from. Jay Gatsby was corrupted because his name was a lie, the American dream corrupted him, and what he use the money for. James Gatz or what he presents himself now, Jay Gatsby just proves that his life is a whole deception. “James gatz - that was really, or at least legally, his name. He had changed it at the age of seventeen and at the specific moment that witnessed the beginning of his career” (98). As soon as he saw Dan Cody’s yacht, Gatz changed his name to Gatsby as a representation of a new life. To him, a new life means being successful and have a high social status. The new name screams out corruption for money and luxury. …show more content…
Due to this American dream, it corrupted him because he engages himself to criminal activities. Jay Gatsby told everyone that he gets his money from numerous drugstores. Tom found out that Gatsby and “Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug store here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter.. pick him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him” (133). After the war, Gatsby needed to gain money so he sold illegal alcohol. Being a bootlegger immediately makes him a phony. Gatsby enlisted himself to act dishonest to his friends and in return for the illegal job, he gained wealth and benefits from

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