Money and class always played a huge role in the life of any society. Since ancient times, people have been marrying for money, undermining the primary value of love and romance. In The Great Gatsby, possessions and class are the factors that could contribute to the initiation of a relationship and create the gap between lovers and friends because no money can buy devotion and affection.
Money builds bridges, as it could be seen from Jay Gatsby’s intention to obtain a higher social status and win Daisy back. The novel starts with the epigraph about a golden hat (Fitzgerald 1953). It is a symbol of impressing someone with possessions, gold, money, or high status. Ultimately, showing off with your mansions and wealth is a way to get your lover’s attention. Gatsby throws luxurious parties for his guests with the hope that Daisy, the love of his life, will finally come up. In addition, every person in the novel wants to reach the nobility or just touch the magic of being wealthy and powerful. For example, Myrtle is also fully absorbed into the capitalist ideas, buying luxury things to virtually achieve the desired status (Fitzgerald 1953). Money is a great attractor, especially for women whose social and economic situation is insecure and completely dependent on a man.
Although money means stability, there is a strong opposition between two worlds of the rich: “old money” and “new money.” For example, the residents of West Egg are the newly rich, while people from the East Egg are old aristocracy. Gatsby represents “new millionaires”: being a poor farm boy, and he used social mobility to become wealthy. However, the society of the rich considers him a stranger: his status is short-lived, his education is questionable. For instance, the invitation from the Sloanes to come to their mansion for a party is just a polite act (Fitzgerald 1953). Indeed, the Sloanes hope that Jay Gatsby will refuse the invitation. The attitude to self-made millionaires could be clearly seen when the family of Buchanans disagrees with visiting Gatsby’s funerals, preferring to forget about his sacrifice. Thus, the status of “new money” is the barrier to love and friendship.
In the society of the old rich, people’s sense of worth depends on their place in a social network, and they do not need affections to set the ties. For instance, Daisy realizes that romantic love cannot last forever. Her thoughts of marriage and love are rational and materialistic; therefore, she finally stays loyal to her husband. For a high class that is rather natural that a woman has certain requirements: her husband must have a particular status and money to live in stability. Except for Daisy, there is an example of Myrtle Wilson, who also chose her husband according to her thoughts of a perfect match. She thought him to be well-bred and therefore respectable and worthy. For women in The Great Gatsby, materialism means more than romantic feelings. Money matters, but the kind of money – the class is more critical.
The truth is as old as the hills: money can not buy happiness. Even though money always attracts various people, promising them freedom and enjoyment, the relationships built upon money are impermanent if there is no devotion. In The Great Gatsby, Daisie’s betrayal shows that the plan of Gatsby to fulfill the dream relying on materialistic ideas was no more than an illusion.
Reference
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1953.