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The Great Gatsby Moral Analysis

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The Great Gatsby Moral Analysis
An Analysis of Morals within The Great Gatsby
Following the end of World War I, the citizens of the United States began to experience the transition from a war-effort focus to an artistic, cultural and capitalistic-driven society. The increasing rise of new capitalists establishes new social classes that not only define the identity of risk-taking entrepreneurs in the Roaring Twenties, but also contributes to an even greater divide between the traditional of-the-earth working class citizens and their wealthy and opulent counterparts. These demographics are easily visible by a person’s wealth and assets, however beneath the surface each class also carries an unwritten set of explicit ethical attributes. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great …show more content…
Fitzgerald successfully paints the clear picture of George’s financial history through Myrtle’s sympathy and grief of her quasi-failed marriage. At one point in Fitzgerald’s novel, Myrtle is brought to tears as she laments over the discovery of George borrowing another man’s best suit on her wedding day. Despite financial limitations, George can only resort to displaying his love and compassion through the use of action. George does not live the extravagant lifestyle like the other major characters of The Great Gatsby, thus he is seen at the lowest end of the economic spectrum of prosperity, yet his integrity places him above all other characters in the novel. Sadly, this honest attitude blinds George from the fact that that Myrtle is discontent in her marriage and is living an adulterous lifestyle with Tom Buchanan. In stark contrast to George Wilson, the novel’s wealthiest character is Tom Buchanan. Tom has all the money in the world to shower his love interests, yet his moral code is severely lacking. Buchanan’s idea of buying love is apparent as he buys an obscenely valued pearl necklace for his wife Daisy. As well and a ten-dollar impromptu purchase of a dog for his mistress Myrtle. Tom’s morals are shaped by his financial status as a rich citizen that can throw money around to cover his crimes and scandalous
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