Wealth In The Great Gatsby

Words: 898
Pages: 4

Can one’s passion for another lead to wealth? Can wealth ever be considered as a means to an end? In the book, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the protagonist, Jay Gatsby seems to use wealth as a means to an end. The name Jay Gatsby, which was originally Jay Gatz, creates a new persona in which he is attempting to reach this end goal. Gatsby’s rapid rise to the successful elite can only be described as a personal desire for attention. Early in his life, Gatz was introduced to Dan Cody, a wealthy man who became a lifelong friend and mentor. Eventually, Cody thought of Gatz as his prodigy and the name Jay Gatsby was born. Gatsby was drafted into World War I leaving Daisy, his life long love, behind. Before the war, Gatsby was not wealthy but promised a lifestyle of riches to Daisy. However when returning from the war, he finds that Daisy has forgotten his promise and married a man named Tom Buchanan, who has inherited his wealth. Jay Gatsby’s jealousy is the quintessential reason for his ambition of affluence. Fitzgerald utilizes Gatsby’s passion for Daisy in order to depict his various identities, which is ultimately the reason for his wealth.
Gatsby’s false appearance of wealth and his Oxford background conveniently leaves out his struggles as a young man. Gatsby grew up in North Dakota
…show more content…
The reason for the extravagant parties Gatsby throws every weekend are not because he just likes to party, but also to get Daisy’s attention. He hopes one day she will stop in one of his parties and then be reconnected there. If he hadn't had his wealth, Daisy would have looked right past Gatsby. She would have never wasted her time, but since he does, she is very interested in him and his new money. When Gatsby talks to Daisy he says, “"Her voice is full of money,"(120) Meaning he can’t separate money from her as a person, it just comes along with