Theme of New Money in The Great Gatsby

The Theme of New Money in The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby dives deep into the theme of new money, spotlighting characters who chase wealth in the roaring 1920s. This essay will explore what new money means and why it matters in the story. By taking a closer look at Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, and Daisy Buchanan, we'll dig into how new money shakes up social status, relationships, and that elusive American Dream. At the end of the day, this piece argues that while new money might open doors for climbing the social ladder, it often comes with its own set of problems. It can lead to shallow connections, materialistic goals, and losing touch with who you really are.

Understanding New Money

In The Great Gatsby, "new money" is all about folks who've just gotten rich—usually through business or inheriting from relatives who didn't have it before. These aren't people who grew up with silver spoons in their mouths, and they don’t have that old-school status that "old money" carries. Fitzgerald makes a big deal about separating new money from old to show how society was changing in the 1920s.

Take Jay Gatsby: he's a poster child for new money. He builds his fortune doing shady stuff and tries hard to fit in with the upper crust.

"I found out what your 'drug-stores' were. He turned to us and spoke rapidly. 'He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That's one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong.'" (Fitzgerald 141)

This shows how Gatsby’s wealth is built on illegal activities—a hint at how corrupt new money can be. And you can see he's not really accepted by the high-class crowd through Tom Buchanan’s snarky remarks about Gatsby's criminal ways.

The Social Climb

Getting rich isn't just about having more cash; it's tied to wanting to move up socially too. Folks with new money like Gatsby try using their wealth to get into elite circles but face pushback from those who’ve had it for generations. Tom Buchanan, an emblem of old money, sees new-money people as second-rate since they lack fancy upbringing and cultural polish.

"An Oxford man!' He was incredulous. 'Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit.'" (Fitzgerald 139)

Tom's sneer about Gatsby’s education and choice of clothes points out biases against new money folks. Even with all his lavish riches, Gatsby can't shake off the stain on his social standing among old-money types.

Relationships Under Strain

The impact of new money runs deep into relationships shown in the book. Those with newfound riches struggle to build real bonds because their wealth acts like a wall between them and others. Daisy Buchanan is caught between loving Gatsby—a man with fresh wealth—and staying with her husband Tom Buchanan, who represents stability through old money.

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." (Fitzgerald 188)

Their riches work like a shield, letting them dodge responsibility for their actions. Their reckless lifestyle shows how new money can foster superficial ties without accountability.

Conclusion

So there you have it—the theme of new money in The Great Gatsby highlights both the allure and downside of chasing riches in the 1920s era filled with glitz yet lacking depth. Characters like Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, and Daisy showcase hurdles faced by those trying to rise socially using newfound fortunes—the novel hints that while it brings chances for moving up; it also leads down paths toward hollow interactions focused solely on things rather than real identities or connections.
This serves as a cautionary tale reminding us what can happen when we’re too caught up in getting more during times known mostly only excessiveness themselves!

References:

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.
• Piper Jr., Henry Dan., et al., editors.Critical Essays on F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. G.K.Hall & Co., 1984.
• Tredell Nicolas.The Great Gatsby: A Reader's Guide. Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.,2007.
• Lathbury Robert.A Student Companion To F.Scott Fitzgerald's The GreatGatsby & Tender IsThe Night
• Matterson Stephen .Modern Novels : Fitzgeralds TheGreatGatsbys Modern Library Chronicles Series Vol.-1 ,Marshall Cavendish Benchmark USA Publication HouseNYC Public School District Library System Collection-2016 Edition Released Date-Sep2015ISBN13-9780761487413