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Quite clearly, one of the themes that appear to be the most
prominently apparent within F. Scott Fitzgerald’s highly renowned
literary work, ‘The Great Gatsby’, is the disadvantageousness of
adhering to materialistic values. This is something that is repeatedly
emphasized upon in as much as the situational duress that each of the
prime characters finds him or herself in, at various points throughout
the novel. Indeed, it would be introductorily apt to acknowledge that a
prevalent degree of the build-ups within the plot, leading to the
climax and conclusion, occur primarily as a result of the regrettable
consequences of the ingrained nature of such values.
Explicating the relevance of materialistic norms within the novel
Take into consideration, for instance, that fact that one of the
most relevant twists within the plot, based upon Gatsby’s apparent love
for Daisy, is basically emergent as a result of nothing more than
Daisy’s obsession with materialistic values. It would be useful to here
consider that the underlying reason due to which the dead relationship
between Gatsby and Daisy is allowed to rekindled, is that the Gatsby
convinces Daisy that the relationship she currently has with her
husband Tom is something to be regretted. As a result of the fact that
Daisy happens to be an extraordinarily materialistic person, this is
something that is not all that difficult for Gatsby to achieve. In
order to ensure that Daisy is convinced of turning back to him, Gatsby
gives her a strategic tour of his mansion, making sure that she is
completely struck by his wealth, which she is. And in further regard to
Daisy’s fixation with wealth and riches, it would be relevant to
consider that while Tom proverbially bought her love with a three
hundred thousand dollar necklace; Gatsby appears to be attempting to
try the same thing with a mansion instead of a necklace. Speaking in
terms of the protagonist, Gatsby, it would be relevant to consider that
his character contributes to the them of materialism in as much as his
obsession with winning over Daisy’s love primarily via a display of his
personal riches.
Furthermore, even the manner, in which the character of Tom, Daisy’s
husband, is portrayed, is anchored to the concept of materialism. This
is something that is made clear when analytically considering the
manner in which Tom regards Myrtle, the woman who he has been having an
affair with. The fact that Tom regards her with little more regard than
he would spare for a pet is something that attains a rather relevant
note when considering it in light of Tom’s perspective in concern to
his social position. Tom Buchanan considers himself as being from among
the elite old order of the rich and wealthy; something that he
accentuates upon in as much as contrasting his wealth to that of
Gatsby’s. In terms of the way he Myrtle, however, it would be useful to
consider that Tom has all the money and leads the life she wants to be
a part of. This is something that appears to give him a rather
masochistic edge over her. While he apparently mistreats her due to an
element of disdain for her obvious inferiority in terms of social
standing, this inferiority is something that is proportionately
accentuated as a result of the evident enviousness of Myrtle in terms
of her current state of life. It is quite apparent that she, Myrtle,
thoroughly dislikes the collective features and characteristics of the
relationship that she shares with her husband, George.
Further illustration of materialism and the resultant negativities
Thus speaking and considering all that has been said and discussed
till this point in the paper, it would here be apt to consider that the
gradual deterioration of the stability upon the canvas of the narration
is completely due to the relevance that is given to materialistic
values. Had it not been for Tom’s fixation with control, borne of the
persistence of his impression of himself as the social best, he would
probably have not been involved in an affair with another woman.
Similarly, had Daisy not been so materialistically inclined as to first
stray towards the riches of Gatsby, and then, upon hearing the origin
of his wealth, swaying back towards Tom, she probably would not have
ended up driving back home with Gatsby in the passenger seat. And last
but certainly not the least, had Gatsby not been so smug in concern to
the success that he would have with winning back Daisy with his wealth,
he probably wouldn’t have ended up dying.
It is quite apparent, thus speaking and considering all that has
been portrayed till here, that the socially ingrained concept of
materialism is what primarily fuels the trial of consequences that ends
in something of a tragedy. And it would be appropriate to consider what
is probably the point in the book that is the most relevant to
unveiling the depth of the materialist values ingrained within the
characters. This reference is to the point in the narration when Gatsby
says, with a sentiment approaching mock practicality, ‘can’t repeat the
past? Why of course you can’ (Gatsby, 1996: Page 111). This is
something that effectually illustrates the high regard, which the
characters bestow upon materialistic wealth and riches. It is, after
all, as a result of his contemporary prominence in terms of wealth that
Gatsby is confident that he can win back Daisy’s favor in spite of the
fact that she is married and has a child. It would be conclusively apt
to consider that the while materialism and its consequences are the
prime focus of the book; particular regrets that characters harbor due
to various voluntary actions seems to embody a secondarily underlying
theme. This is accentuated upon when considering that had it not been
for certain regrets on their respective parts, neither would Tom, nor
Daisy, nor Myrtle be involved in affairs; and this too, consequently,
would have resulted in a failure of the plots moving towards the climax
in the manner that it does.
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