For instance, Tom is particularly proud of his inherited wealth and possessions, and is not at all apprehensive of flaunting his wealth. While eagerly showing off his home to Nick, Tom, “moved a broad flat hand over the front vista, including in its sweep a sunken Italian garden [and] a half acre of deep, pungent roses” (Fitzgerald 7). Tom owns an inordinate supply of roses, yet he seems to overlook the naturalistic beauty that each flower carries. Instead, Tom relishes the rich status the roses provide him. The flowers are a depiction of Tom’s nearly unattainable wealth. Him home is vibrant with color, while those of a lower social standing have yards of murky ash. Tom does not appreciate the flowers for what they are, nor is he capable of viewing them as anything but a display of his prestige in society. Admittedly, Tom barely shows appreciation for anything in his life, and thus his disregard for flowers may seem meaningless. However, the fact that the only thing Tom truly values is his wealth, illuminates his materialistic drive. Nature is just another object Tom carelessly collects and stores in order to fully establish his wealth and power in …show more content…
This particular use of flowers occurs when Gatsby plans to finally reunite with Daisy in Nick’s home. After feverishly assembling his home in preparation of Daisy’s arrival, Nick realizes that his efforts were, “unnecessary, for at two o’clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby’s with innumerable receptacles to contain it” (Fitzgerald 84). These flowers bombarded Nick’s home, masking every surface with a blanket of gentle blossoms. The excessive quantity of flowers was superfluous, however it reveals an important element of Gatsby’s nature. This unnecessary amount of flowers highlights Gatsby’s countless insecurities he holds regarding Daisy. Five years prior, Gatsby was denied Daisy’s precious love, due to his low class status and financial standing. Now that he has developed into an upper class individual, Gatsby hopes that he can capture Daisy’s attention and acquire her love. He is not prepared to face rejection twice, and believes that the flowers are an accurate representation of what he can provide Daisy. However, in this flower filled fiasco, Gatsby does not fully comprehend the way that the materialistic manners of the upper class have snuck into his life. Gatsby has the ability to purchase any flower he desires, except for the one he yearns for the most, Daisy. In essence “It is as futile for Gatsby to try to,” obtain Daisy’s love by display of his prosperity,