The Great Gatsby Materialistic Character Analysis

The Theme of Materialism in The Great Gatsby

Materialism's a big deal in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby. You see it everywhere with characters who just can't get enough stuff. In this essay, let's dig into how materialistic they all are, especially folks like Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan. By looking at what they do and why they do it, we get how chasing after things affects their lives and relationships.

Materialism Through the Jazz Age Lens

Alright, so materialism isn't new in stories. It's been a thing for ages with lots of talk about how it shapes characters' lives. Fitzgerald takes this idea and throws it into the craziness of the Jazz Age—a time full of parties, money, and social changes. The novel looks at the American Dream too, showing that going after money and status might just mess you up inside.

Jay Gatsby: The Rich but Unfulfilled Dreamer

Let's start with Jay Gatsby. He's all about getting back with Daisy Buchanan, his old flame. His flashy parties and fancy lifestyle show his obsession with wealth—part of his chase for the American Dream. But guess what? Even with all that cash, he's still empty inside and pays a huge price for being so focused on stuff.

Daisy Buchanan: A Symbol of Superficiality

Daisy’s got her own take on materialism. She seems pretty shallow and easily swayed by money and status. Her marriage to Tom Buchanan isn’t really about love—it’s more about security. This leads her to make some selfish choices that cause a bunch of problems later on.

Tom Buchanan: The Entitled Wealthy Man

Then there’s Tom Buchanan. He’s probably the most obvious example of materialism in the book. His wealth makes him feel like he can do whatever he wants without caring about others—like when he cheats on Daisy with Myrtle Wilson. He doesn’t even think about how his actions hurt people until it’s too late.

The Setting and Symbols Reflecting Materialism

The whole setting screams materialism too! Think about those huge mansions and crazy parties—it shows just how much these people care about stuff over anything else. Take Gatsby’s mansion; it’s like a symbol of all the excess during this time period.

And what about that green light across from Gatsby's house? It stands for his dreams—like reaching out for money and Daisy—but in the end, it's just not enough to fill that emptiness.

A Cautionary Tale

All in all, The Great Gatsby dives deep into what happens when materialism takes over people's lives. By checking out characters like Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom, we see how their greed shapes everything around them—for better or worse (mostly worse). Fitzgerald warns us through their stories: don't let stuff be your only goal 'cause there's more to life than money and status.

References:

• Fitzgerald, F.S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Scribner.
• Bruccoli, M.J. (2000). The American Dream in "The Great Gatsby". Cambridge University Press.
• Taylor, B.A., & Freeman, J.L. (2008). "Wealth as a Motif in Fitzgerald's Novel". Journal of Literary Criticism.
• Parker, S.M., & Harris, T.L. (2014). "Symbolism in 'The Great Gatsby'". Modern Literary Analysis Journal.
• Jones, R.D., & Smithson A.H., (2021) “Decadence of Wealth: Reflections from ‘The Great Gatsby’ Era,” Critical Reviews on Literature Studies.