Money and The Great Gatsby Essay Example

two classes in the novel: the old rich, represented by Daisy and Tom Buchanan, and the new rich, represented by Jay Gatsby. Gatsby regularly hosts extravagant parties in hopes of winning back Daisy, his former love. In the story, Nick, the narrator, first sees Gatsby after one of his famous parties. Gatsby can be seen yearningly looking out across the bay toward a green light with his arms extended.

At this moment, the reader is unaware that the green light mentioned refers to the light at Daisy's dock. The significance lies in the fact that the light is green, which symbolizes money, and Gatsby is unable to reach this light due to the distance between them. Despite Gatsby's relentless efforts, he will always be a resident of West Egg attempting to bridge the gap to East Egg. Both Gatsby and Tom vie for Daisy's affections and struggle to win her love through material means. Although Daisy may genuinely have feelings for Gatsby, he lacks the necessary wealth to win her over.

Although Gatsby is now as wealthy as Tom, his social status is far below Tom's established riches. As a result, Daisy refuses to leave Tom and the social standing his money affords. Meanwhile, Tom is having an affair with Myrtle, who belongs to a lower class and has no wealth. Despite Myrtle genuinely believing that their love is real and that one day Tom will leave Daisy for her, this scenario will never happen. Tom would never break the unspoken rule among the wealthy elite and bring Myrtle into his social circle as his wife.

Unfortunately, Myrtle realizes her mistake too

late and meets a tragic end. Despite knowing about Tom's affair, Daisy chooses to stay with him to maintain her social status. The newly wealthy individuals, known as the "nouveau riche," lack the established connections of the old aristocracy. They attend Gatsby's parties to enjoy his forbidden alcohol and extravagant feasts but still refuse to accept him into their exclusive circle. While Gatsby welcomes anyone into his home, he is not welcomed at their luxurious mansions. Gatsby is merely seen as entertainment and nothing more.

Despite his house being filled with guests every Saturday night, only his true friend Nick and Gatsby’s father were present at his funeral upon his death. Gatsby showed no concern about the fact that he only associated with this particular crowd at his parties. His sole desire in life was Daisy, and he aimed to acquire her with all of his wealth. This was the issue the old rich had with the new rich – they didn't know how to properly spend their money. No amount of money can purchase class.

During the 1920s, the new rich were unable to grasp the level of understanding possessed by the old rich. This was a time when the Stock Market saw a surge and became a prominent method for accumulating wealth. Simultaneously, bootlegging and prospecting arose as alternative ways to make money. Those who sought to create their own fortunes were perceived as lower-class and lacking in education. The old money from this period had strong connections with business tycoons who invested in railroads, oil wells, and steel—such as the Rockefeller’s and Vanderbilt’s—who were highly regarded as educated individuals belonging

to the upper class.

The rise of the internet has changed the possibilities for acquiring wealth since The Great Gatsby era in the 1920s. Currently, there is a quicker emergence of new millionaires and billionaires, offering individuals from different social classes and backgrounds an opportunity to establish themselves irrespective of their class. Unlike during The Great Gatsby's time, the differentiation between old money and new money carries less importance today. In modern society, individuals who earn their wealth are highly respected.

We admire the narrative of going from poverty to prosperity and appreciate individuals who achieve success through their own efforts. The distinction between the old wealthy and the newly wealthy is now virtually non-existent because our favorite professional athletes, actors, actresses, singers, musicians, and innovative entrepreneurs belong to the latter category. The concept of a privileged individual who inherited wealth and leisurely spends their days on a yacht is as socially unacceptable as the crass self-made millionaire from the 1920s.

Although we still hold the Rockefeller descendants and our ancestors in high regard, it is the accomplishments of people like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg that truly impress us. We tend to support those who are least likely to succeed or have overcome great obstacles, perhaps because they started with nothing and have now achieved tremendous success - something we aspire to accomplish as well. If they can do it, there is hope for us too. Almost a century ago, there was a significant divide between individuals with established family wealth and those who had recently acquired wealth.

In Gatsby's society, there was a belief that old money held

more importance than newly acquired wealth. However, some individuals who quickly became rich offended others with their behavior. This division theory is ultimately pointless because the value of money remains the same regardless of its age. The pursuit of great wealth involves people from all backgrounds, and whether the money is old or new, or if the possessors are high or low class, there will always be someone who is wealthier, smarter, or more successful. The never-ending race for money does not define our true inner selves.