Values In The Great Gatsby

The world has evolved greatly since the 1920’s. Technology has advanced, the pop culture scene has become essential in shaping our entire generation, and all people have experienced a growth in their legal citizenship rights, but a concept that remains constant are the values that Americans hold close. The values of money, success, and reputations that were held by the characters of The Great Gatsby, parallel the values that American society holds today. The drive to achieve money is held to a remarkably high standard in American culture nowadays. Americans are taught from a young age, through movies, T.V, and literature, as well as the way people act that have wealth and those who don’t, that life will be much easier and more pleasant if a grand amount of money is obtained. Celebrities love to flaunt their lavish lifestyle to the public eye, creating the illusion of a perfect life. In The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby strived to gain prosperity since he was a young child. Nick often admires Gatsby for going after his dream of riches and never giving up. “So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end” (Fitzgerald 104). He had created this mental facade of who he was and built his whole life on a dream that he was chasing. All of his efforts were put into becoming the man that he had envisioned growing up, even if that meant leaving home and becoming a bootlegger. In today’s world people spend their entire lives trying to make money no matter the cost. Popular musicians and actors are often found filing for divorce because they spent all their time at the studio and had no time to be with their family. They desired riches more than loved ones. The value of money is a timeless idea, which has been influential in the structure of cultures from the 1920’s till today. In addition to wealth success has also surfaced as an idolized concept in the world today. Success is something that should be awarded after hard work and determination, but Americans want it fast and easy. Jordan Baker wanted it fast and easy as …show more content…
How you are depicted often affects the class status you attain. Tom and Myrtle were having an affair that was plain as day, but even so they didn’t want to be seen together. When they were meeting up they took different trains, so not to be caught in their vile rendezvous’. If they were seen together they would be rendered as cheaters and liars, which would damage the reputation Tom had worked so hard to build up. “So Tom Buchanan and his girl and I went up together to New York--or not quite together, for Mrs. Wilson sat discreetly in another car. Tom deferred that much to the sensibilities of those East Eggers who might be on the train” (Fitzgerald ). The way Tom was seen in other people’s eyes was too important of a factor to dismiss. In today’s society celebrities make up crazy lies and schemes so that their horrendous mishaps don’t get published in the next gossip magazine, blackballing them from the entertainment industry forever. Reputations play a large role in manipulating the way society