Moral Corruption at Its Finest Essay Example

that they belong to the same social class. Throughout the novel, Gatsby manipulates situations to fulfill his desires, disregarding moral standards. Daisy Buchanan is portrayed as morally corrupt; she believes it is acceptable to cheat and lie for her own happiness. She married Tom Buchanan solely for his money, not out of love (Fitzgerald 80). Furthermore, she seeks social status and power through Tom's wealth. Daisy's actions reveal her indifference towards others' feelings and her relentless determination to obtain what she wants (Fitzgerald 39). For instance, she kisses Gatsby in their home while her husband is nearby and guests are present (Fitzgerald 122). This casual display of affection demonstrates her selfish pursuit of happiness. Despite causing harm, such as when she kills Myrtle with her car, Daisy never takes responsibility for her actions but instead leaves others to clean up the messes she creates (Fitzgerald 187). She proves herself to be self-centered and insensitive towards others' feelings as long as it satisfies her own desires. On the other hand, Nick Caraway attempts to maintain peace with everyone but compromises his own ethical values in doing so. Despite being Daisy's cousin, Nick does not object much when he meets Tom's mistress or when cheating and lying occur freely around himGatsby enlists Nick's aid in reconnecting with Daisy, even though he knows she is married. Despite this knowledge, Nick arranges a secret meeting between them and chooses not to disclose Daisy's involvement in Myrtle's death to protect Gatsby's reputation. This decision reveals Nick's own moral corruption, as his actions contradict his claims of decency. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald features several morally corrupt characters fixated

on their self-centered lifestyles in the East. Serving as a mediator for all the immoral failures in the novel, Nick Caraway portrays himself as nonjudgmental but ultimately embodies depravity by blurring the lines between right and wrong consistently. Gatsby himself becomes consumed by an obsessive belief driven by love that leads to reckless destruction and a loss of moral compass. Meanwhile, Daisy combines fancifulness, impulsiveness, and cunningness to maintain her societal standing while pursuing impulsive desires and earthly pleasures that exemplify how seeking social acceptance can result in moral decay. Ultimately, the moral ambiguity displayed by Nick, Daisy, and Gatsby culminates in one individual being destroyed while others continue living immoral lives without facing consequences.