PLEASE Write a multi-genre essay about The value of wealth in The Great Gatsby. This is what I have so far.
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald is a novel which explores the theme value of wealth. The novel is set in the 1920s and follows the life of Jay Gatsby who is a wealthy man, always throwing massive and expensive parties. Known for his money. Known to have studied in Oxford. Wealth, in The Great Gatsby, is depicted to be the driving factor behind the actions of many characters. For instance, Gatsby's pursuit of wealth is largely motivated by his love for Daisy, a woman from an affluent background. Fitzgerald wrote, "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.” This quote shows the author's critique of the careless and reckless attitudes nurtured by excessive wealth.
From a broader perspective, the value of wealth in The Great Gatsby can be analyzed in context with the socio-economic ethos of the 1920s, the principles of capitalism as highlighted by well-known capitalists like Andrew Carnegie, and the rampant materialism epitomized by the term Gilded Age, used by Mark Twain. In the world Fitzgerald created, wealth is seen as a means to fulfill desires, buy love, and secure a better social status. However, such pursuits often end in disappointment, reflecting views similar to those expressed by Andrew Carnegie about the responsible usage of wealth. Carnegie, who emphasized philanthropy, considered the unmanaged pursuit of wealth as destructive.
Furthermore, the book also reflects the contemporary economic criticisms made by Henry George, whose philosophy argued against extreme wealth disparity. In The Great Gatsby, while wealth buys material comforts, it fails to secure true happiness and contentment for the characters.
On the other hand, another perspective on wealth is given by Andrew Carnegie who believed that the rich had a responsibility to give back to the community. This is encapsulated in his statement, "Poor and restricted are our opportunities in this life; narrow our horizon; our best work most imperfect; but rich men should be thankful for one inestimable boon. They have it in their power during their lives to busy themselves in organizing benefactions from which the masses of their fellows will derive lasting advantage, and thus dignify their own lives." Clearly, the value of wealth differs greatly between the characters and societal values represented in the novel The Great Gatsby and the philanthropic mindset put forward by Carnegie.
