Examples Of Greed In The Great Gatsby - 1195 Words

Greed is a common flaw in all human beings, coaxing individuals to pour in all their effort without ever being satisfied. The ultimate goal for greed is generally achieving affluence. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s insightful novel, The Great Gatsby, wealth is portrayed as the key factor in determining whether one is successful or not. Most people value prosperity over morals and ethics during the heat of pursuing their own ambitions; yet all unscrupulous behaviors do not escape God’s eyes. By utilizing eye motif, repetitions of sight words, and tone changes, F. Scott Fitzgerald justifies that avarice will always end in vain and amoral decisions will always end in regrets. Through the repetition of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes, it becomes clear†¦show more content†¦From the pessimistic introduction, it foreshadows a later downfall. Starting from the first encounter, Nick has an indescribable feeling derived from the cogent stare. For example, as Nick and Tom slowly â€Å"walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleburg s persistent stare† (Fitzgerald 24), Nick feels uneasy about the inanimate billboard even though no one is staring at them. The location of the eyes, on the road half way between West Egg and New York, symbolizes the different paths of life. When one arrives at the turning point, they have their power to choose their path, but God will watch you as you make those decisions. Nick, for instance, faces the decision of whether to inform Daisy about Tom’s not so secretive affair or dissimulate the unfaithful relationship after the visit to Tom and Myrtle s secret apartment. As the decision was be ing made, God assists as a guidance. The second appearance of the eye motif serves as a warning to Nick, of all the moral consequences he will face for being dishonest. When Tom insists on driving Gatsby’s cream-colored car, Gatsby has no choice but to reluctantly agree and remind him of the necessary gas refill. Tom, being supercilious and disdainful, does not take his reminder seriously. The ride to the city is nearly silent, but â€Å"[t]hen as Doctor T.J. Eckleburg’s faded eyes came into sight down the road, [Nick] remembered Gatsby’s caution about gasoline† (FitzgeraldShow MoreRelatedMoney for Moneys Sake in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald804 Words   |  3 Pagesthink one of the most pervasive evils in this world is greed and acquiring money for money’s sake. Once you have six houses and a plane, it’s just about a number. It’s never been anything I understood.† This is a quote by Kevin Bacon, a very awesome and ap parently worldly actor, and it perfectly captures the essence of the theme that I have come to for The Great Gatsby. The theme I see most strongly reflected in the book is this: Although greed and lust are human nature, they are often used as a substituteRead MoreEssay on Greed In The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath935 Words   |  4 Pagestime of poverty and in a time of greed. Two novels, written by Steinbeck and Fitzgerald, portray this underlying greed and envy better than most novels of that period. These novels, The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath, show that despite the difference between the 1920s and the 1930s, greed remained a part of human life, whether superficially or necessarily, and that many people used their greed to damage themselves and others. In both of these novels, greed as a whole is negative, corrosiveRead MoreGreed And Materialism In The Great Gatsby Analysis1311 Words   |  6 Pagesinto a prosperous and previously foreign â€Å"consumer society† (History.com). The traits of greed and materialism are ubiquitous in The Great Gatsby, as well as in the Art Deco era of the 1920’s. These two characteristics can give one confidence, but as demonstrated in the novel, they bring nothing but short-term satisfaction. After which, feelings can run the gamut from desperation to childish behaviors. While greed and materialism have the power to seem favorable, bringing an amplification of socialRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay906 Words   |  4 PagesMaterialism in the Great Gatsby America has been labeled The land of opportunity, a place where it is possible to accomplish anything and everything. This state of mind is known as The American Dream. The American Dream provides a sense of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. This dream, however, originates from a desire for spiritual and material improvement. Unfortunately, the acquisition of material has been tied together with happiness in AmericaRead More Comparing the Perversion of Values in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman1642 Words   |  7 PagesPerversion of Values in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman      Ã‚   Throughout History there are many examples of perversions, from sexual, social to the very morals themselves. One of the greatest examples is the continuous corruption of the American Dream. As the Dream evolves, it tends to conform to the illicit dealings of the time and immortals of society. No longer is an individual interested in working hard to achieve goals, it is desirous of the quick fix. Society wants its wishesRead MoreNature of Man- Great Gatsby Essay1750 Words   |  7 Pagesbeing too selfish and just trying to have a better life. Being selfish requires caring only about what one wants and not what the rest of society strives for as a whole. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it is evident through the characters that it is in man’s nature to be selfish through the act of cruelty, greed, and manipulating others to achieve a goal. It is in man’s nature to be selfish; this is shown through the act of cruelty. Cruelty is shown in the novel when Nick is speakingRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1258 Words   |  6 Pages What Killed Gatsby? Love or Greed? To certain people, Gatsby’s death was a cruel and surprising conclusion to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. But there is still some mystery around the cause of Gatsby’s death. Upon meeting Gatsby for the first time, one can tell that he has an obsession centered around Daisy Buchanan, his old love, and was dead set on getting her back. Gatsby’s obsession with repeating the past is responsible for his death and Gatsby’s greed put him in a grave. FurtherRead More Fitzgeralds Exploration of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby702 Words   |  3 Pagesin The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is a one of the best stories written during a chaotic period in our nation’s history, The Jazz Age. The Twenties were a time of social experiments, self-indulgence, and dissatisfaction for majority of Americans. Fitzgerald depicts all these characteristics throughout the novel with his interesting themes, settings, and characters. The most elaborate and symbolic character Fitzgerald presents to his readers is Jay Gatsby. FitzgeraldRead MoreThe Corruption of the American Dream in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby1345 Words   |  6 Pagesthe possibility of upward social and economic mobility earned through hard work, as corrupted and debased by the egotistic materialism of the 1920s, an era which Fitzgerald characterizes chiefly by its greed and lavish hedonism, in his celebrated novel The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald, in The Great Gatsby, seeks to discredit the supposed purity of the American Dream and belief that anyone ca n attain it through hard work. Instead, he argues that the dream is a mere delusion, altered so significantly fromRead MoreFailure Of The American Dream In The Writings Of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zora Neale Hurston, And August Wilson1418 Words   |  6 Pagesdefine the failure of the †American Dream† in the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Arthur Miller, Zora Neale Hurston, and August Wilson. Fitzgerald’s account of the Jay Gatsby s rise to fame in the 1920s defines the failure of financial success as part of the American Dream. Gatsby will eventually die due to his excessive greed, which is not unlike the emotional death of Willy Loman as he fails to become a successful salesman in Author Miller’s Death of a Salesman. More so, Hurston’s depiction of

Time is Running Out free essay sample

He thought there were no doors left; another one had slammed right in his face. RING! School was now in session. From my perspective, today was going to be a typical day. Time was already flying by but it wasn’t until third hour that my opinion was brought back to reality. Something was wrong. I didn’t know what had happened or if something was going to happen, but I could feel a sense of alarm. The further and further I journeyed through the halls, the more I began to think about it. Just as I turned the corner, I could see a large crowd of people hovering over something. From my standpoint I couldn’t see anything so I veered in closer to get a better vantage point. Instantly, my heart started to race. I could not believe what I was seeing. Alex’s face was dripping blood. RING! Since that was the lunch bell, the crowd quickly dispersed, leaving Alex all alone. We will write a custom essay sample on Time is Running Out or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Sorrowfully, I walked up to Alex and said, â€Å"Are you all right?† Alex, trying to hold in his tears, replied â€Å"I’m fine. Just leave me alone. It was just a fight. I don’t need anyone’s help.† Granting his wish, I started to walk away. Even though he said he was fine, I could still feel my conscience telling me that something was not right. Who knows, though? Hopefully lunch hour could take my mind off the situation. On the way to my locker, my friend Joe ran up to me and said, â€Å"Let’s go play some football outside; all the guys are waiting for you; c’mon.† That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. A good game of football would take my mind off Alex. hearing this news, we immediately bolted outside. â€Å"Almost there,† Joe told me. â€Å"All right, end zones are the two trees and the baseball diamond. â€Å" As Joe pointed toward the trees, I caught a glimpse of Alex sitting all alone. â€Å"Joe, tell the guys to start without me. I’ll be back in a few minutes.† â€Å"Where are you going?† â€Å"Don’t worry about it.† Walking over to Alex I said, â€Å"Hey do you want to play some football?† â€Å"No, I’m horrible.† â€Å"It doesn’t matter. We’re just playing for fun.† â€Å"Ok.† Already late for the game, we sprinted over to the field. â€Å"Hey guys, do you mind if Alex plays?† With looks of disgust one of the guys selfishly replied, â€Å"We already picked teams.† I could see the look of ostracism in Alex’s eyes. â€Å"I’ll sit out. He can take my spot.† The guys all glared at me while Alex’s face beamed with delight. â€Å"All right, whatever, he can play.† After football, Alex and I went to the next class together. We talked and laughed in between classes: and at the end of the day, he invited me over to his house. I accepted his invitation. As soon as we got inside, he directed me a specific room. Not knowing what to expect, he slowly opened the door. I saw a rope and a chair. He told me, â€Å"Not until this afternoon did I find someone who actually cares. Today was going to be my last day. I would not have seen tomorrow. Words are not strong enough to tell you how grateful I am you ran into me.† Door slam after door slam, the one that mattered most managed to stay open. Since that day, Alex and I have became the closest of friends. I don’t care what people around me think. To this day, I am proud to say, he is my best friend.