The Great Gatsby: Unfaithfulness And Greed Essay, Research Paper
The Great Gatsby: Unfaithfulness and Greed
The love described in the novel, The Great Gatsby, contains “violence
and egoism not tenderness and affection.” The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald,
writes on wealth, love, and corruption. Two coupes, Tom and Daisy Buchanan and
George and Myrtle Wilson, match perfectly with these categories. Both couples
are different in the way they choose to live together, but are similar in a few
ways.
Unfaithfulness and greed are the only similarities the couples shared.
Tom, Daisy, and Myrtle were all unfaithful to their spouses. Their love for
themselves far out-weighed their love for each other. Tom and Myrtle had a
notorious affair throughout the novel while Daisy becomes very close to her ex-
beloved, Jay Gatsby. Even with their new lovers, none of them displayed true
love. Each wanted something from the other. Tom wanted the “possession” of
Myrtle, Myrtle wanted Tom’s “luxuries and wealth,” and Daisy wanted Gatsby
simply for his wealth. Both Tom and Daisy know of each other’s affairs, but
neither one truly cares. As the story progresses, it seems as though each of
them is trying to make the other more jealous.
Honesty and Love, two words know only by the faithful, George Wilson.
George certainly had his flaws, but he loved his wife dearly and couldn’t live
without her. “He was his wife’s man and not his own.” When he became aware of
Tom and Myrtle’s affair, he was “really sick, pale as his own pale hair and
shaking all over.” He locks her up in fear that she will run away with Tom
forever. He stated that, “She’s going to move stay there until the day after
tomorrow, and then we’re going to move away.” George thought that by moving
out West, where Myrtle wanted to go in the beginning, would solve everything.
Before the move could be made, Myrtle was killed; it is here where George’s love
is shown most. George becomes extemely upset after Myrtle’s death. Wilson was
reduced to a man “deranged by grief.” Because of the death of his wife, George
decides to murder who he believes her killer to be and then commits suicide by
shooting himself.
Thoughout the novel there are many incidents involving love and greed.
This is somewhat characteristic of the 1920’s. During this time, many people
partied, drank, and had a careless attitude. Niether of these couples
experienced a pure relationship, only ones filled with lies and selfishness,
not of true, honest love.