Corruption of Wealth and Society through Geography in The...

Throughout The Great Gatsby, various locations are introduced that correlate to specific types of inhabitants. The geography of the novel is primarily comprised of four scenes: East Egg, West Egg, the valley of the ashes, and New York City. Although all of the localities are situated in the East, Nick muses at the end of the novel that the story is, in actuality, â€Å"of the West† (Fitzgerald 176). This discovery insinuates that the materialisms of the East besmirched the characters of the West, symbolizing the deteriorating effects the quest for riches has on traditional values. Employing the four major settings, Fitzgerald is able to translate the moral and social corruption of society which dramatically contrasts with the conventional†¦show more content†¦Both Tom and Daisy â€Å"were careless people,† since â€Å"they smashed up things and creatures and retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness† after the damage was done (179). Daisy is chiefly concerned with wealth and status, and becomes infatuated with the ostentatious mansion Gatsby flaunts. This obsession with affluence is portrayed when she â€Å"began to cry stormily† at the mere sight of Gatsby’s lavish collection of expensive shirts (92). Even after her lengthy affair with Gatsby, Daisy neglects to attend his funeral, symbolizing her callous nature and the fact that she used Gatsby for his prestige. Unlike East Egg, West Egg is primarily comprised of new money as exhibited by Jay Gatsby. In contrast to its counterparts, West Egg is gaudy and extravagant, symbolized through the grandiose manor Gatsby occupies. Gatsby’s mansion is described as â€Å"a colossal affair by any standard† which he utilizes to throw flamboyant parties in hopes that his longtime love Daisy will attend (5). In this sense, he exploits his wealth to gain Daisy’s affection, judging the relationship by â€Å"the measure of response† the house evoked from Daisy’s â€Å"well-loved eyes† (91). Gatsby relies on artificial and materialistic means as a foundation for his love. West Egg is also represented as having an inability to conform to societal norms as well as translate social cues. For example,Show MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1609 Words   |  7 PagesFitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the degeneration of society and people during that time due to their immaculate wealth and their glamorous lives is captured perfectly. The entire book seems to revolve around one major theme: the decline of the American dream and the perfect society that supposedly came with it. This is set apart from the other themes in the book because instead of being mentioned directly, it is hinted at by means of oratorical words and phrases. 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