For generations, many Americans have remained in desperate search of the so-called ‘American dream.’ The idea that monetary gain can change one’s life is deeply ingrained in modern society. We’re all acquainted with the concept: money makes the world go round. Money, in fact, is a central part of life; it allows for access, opportunity, and comfort. But does wealth necessarily lead to happiness? In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is a man who certainly sees life in monetary terms. He thinks money will allow him to have everything that he wants; with money, he throws lavish parties and receives great fame from those who attend. Gatsby is controlled by his wealth; he even sees his relationship with Daisy, which he so desires, as attainable, by way of his money. When Daisy finally tours his home, the home he has built with such grandeur to entice her, he literally throws his shirts in front of her, showcasing his wealth. Daisy Buchanan also portrays this intense desire and love of money throughout the plot. She even begins to cry when she comments on the beauty of his expensive wardrobe.
Materialism is deeply present within this text. The novel cannot be fully understood without understanding the economic climate of the 1920s. Before the stock market crash in 1929, the 1920s were a period of great wealth and prosperity for the elite. The setting of The Great Gatsby, in particular, is a place in which this kind of extravagance and extreme wealth was abounding. Fitzgerald’s novel then serves as a commentary on the over-the-top nature of these characters’ fortunes.
Fitzgerald himself mirrored these aspirations associated with the American dream and attaining enormous wealth, and thus, everything that comes with it, including fame and even a romantic relationship. Robert Morsberger discusses this duality stating, “Here we have at its most effective the double vision of Fitzgerald himself; as he shared Gatsby’s dream, winning fortune, Zelda, and fame, so he shared Nick’s disillusion and criticism of that life” (“The New Emperor’s Clothes”). As Morsberger describes, Fitzgerald is fascinated by that quality of life, while also critiquing this lavish existence. He places himself within the context of the novel, allowing a character to develop his own thoughts and desires. The audience is then able to grasp a clearer understanding of the general feelings surrounding this extravagance in the 1920s.
In the 21st century, a profound desire for wealth among people is still rampant. Although in many cases, we have witnessed the reality that money does not always lead to a happy life. An article published by UC Berkeley discusses the pros and the cons of a high income when it comes to developing mental disorders. It states, “studies have long established that feelings of powerlessness and helplessness weaken the immune system, making one more vulnerable to physical and mental ailments” (“Wealth, Power or Lack Thereof at Heart of Many Mental Disorders”). The perhaps obvious negative effects of a lack of money seem to suggest a susceptibility to certain mental disorders. An extreme amount of money, however, can also have negative side effects. The article continues, “Conversely, an inflated sense of power is among the behaviors associated with bipolar disorder and narcissistic personality disorder, which can be both personally and socially corrosive” (“Wealth, Power or Lack Thereof at Heart of Many Mental Disorders”). In the extreme cases, both in great wealth and in great poverty, there seem to be higher cases of depression. In a Gallup article, Alyssa Brown writes of the disparity between Americans in poverty and those not. She cites the statistics, “About 31% of Americans in poverty say they have at some point been diagnosed with depression compared with 15.8% of those not in poverty” (“With Poverty Comes Depression, More Than Other Illnesses”).
If we look closely at the change in Americans, as a group, we can in fact see the other side, which is that wealth is not necessarily correlated with happiness. David Myers puts it succinctly, “[Americans] are twice as rich and no happier. Meanwhile, the divorce rate doubled. Teen suicide tripled…. Depression rates have soared, especially among teens and young adults” (“The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People”). Myers examines the change in the economy and resources between the 1950s and now in order to draw these conclusions. He says, “I call this conjunction of material prosperity and social recession the American paradox. The more people strive for extrinsic goals such as money, the more numerous their problems and the less robust their well being” (“The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People”). Therefore, although many people living in poverty are depressed, the same can be said of people who have money, but want more of it.
Materialism is, and always has been, heavily present in American society. Another text that purposely contradicts the American system of thinking in regards to materialism is Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau journeys into the woods “because (he) wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if (he) could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when (he) came to die, discover that (he) had not lived” (143). He deliberately left society to gain a better understanding of the important aspects of life. He lived alone and with little value on things; his friends were ants and his bath, the pond.
Thoreau would heavily resent the materialism present in The Great Gatsby and within today’s society. Thoreau, who sees possessions as obstacles, thinks it is simply easier to do without them. Modern society holds the opinion that possessions make life easier. Thoreau would most likely defend the belief that dependence on materialism can lead to a lower quality of life in spiritual terms. We live, however, in an instant gratification society. Delivery, online shopping, and technology has facilitated and enabled our culture’s dependence on things, but also added the benefit of having someone else bring the object which you desire to you. Gatsby, though not instantly gratified, eventually seemed to be slowly gaining his dream. He had accumulated the wealth and, over time, had seduced Daisy into his grasp as well. Much like American society, Gatsby was not fulfilled with these things which he assigned such value to. He begins to grow restless in his stability. Daisy and all of his extravagant parties and possessions are not able to fully satisfy him.
The image of Gatsby reaching out toward the green light on Daisy’s dock perfectly symbolizes his insatiable desire. The detail of the light being described as green even relates back to the concept of money. He is reaching out toward it, yet it will never satisfy him. Even though he successfully attained all of this wealth and prosperity, he remains unhappy. The fascination with possibility and having everything he ever wanted all due to his monetary success leaves him unfulfilled, and at the end of his life, alone. Although Gatsby has all the money he could ever want or need, he is never fully satisfied. Wealth, in the context of The Great Gatsby, does not lead to any of the characters’ happiness.
Myers, David G. “The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People,” n.d., 12. Rule-Maxwell, Lauren. “The New Emperor’s Clothes: Keatsian Echoes and American Materialism in ‘The Great Gatsby.’” The F. Scott Fitzgerald Review 8 (2010): 57–78