What is corruption? According to Dictionary.com, “ 1. dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.” Corruption begins when those in power are involved in fraud and/or bribery. For example, the idea of corruption is shown through the American dream, which is portrayed by the life of one’s happiness and luxury as well as the things people would do to achieve it. Even after obtaining the American dream, corruption causes one to lose more than earn. In F.Scott Fitzgerald, ‘The Great Gatsby’, corruption in the American dream is shown through affairs in relationships such as marriage and/or family, the power of wealth and social status.
Fitzgerald symbolizes corruption through affairs in relationships for instance, marriage and/or family, more specifically, the affairs in Tom and Daisy’s marriage. “‘She never loved you, do you hear?’ he cried. ‘She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!’” (Fitzgerald 139). Gatsby explains to Tom how Daisy loves him. This causes a disagreement between Gatsby and Tom. Gatsby loves Daisy so much that he confronts Tom over who Daisy really loves. Gatsby’s love for Daisy corrupts him into trying to pursue Daisy in having an affair, even though she is married. Although, everyone in the Great Gatsby believes that the American Dream is based on luxury, money and having power, to Gatsby it’s Daisy and doing everything and anything to get to be with her. “‘Tom’s got some woman in New York.’…‘She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner-time. Don’t you think?’ The telephone rang inside, startlingly, and as Daisy shook her head decisively at Tom the subject of the stables, in fact all subjects, vanished into air.”(Fitzgerald 18-19). Miss. Baker is talking to Nick over Tom’s affair with a ‘some women’ in New York. Tom is having an affair with Myrtle. Although Tom believes that Daisy doesn’t know about Myrtle, she does. An affair in society is seen as dishonest but in The Great Gatsby it’s seen as a form of corruption.
Moreover, the journey to the American Dream is corrupted by the power of wealth. “[H]e gave her a string of pearls . . . I was a bridesmaid. . . . She…pulled out the . . . pearls . . . “Take ’em down-stairs and give ’em back to whoever they belong to. Tell ’em all Daisy’s change’ her mine. Say: ‘Daisy’s change’ her mind!’”(Fitzgerald 82). If one has money, it brings them the power to be closer to the American Dream. The pearls symbolize the corruption of the American Dream due to society’s ideals, over how money is power. Daisy wouldn’t return the pearls nor say that she changed her mind in order to uphold her current lifestyle, revealing Daisy’s true unhappiness with her marriage.“When I asked him what business he was in he answered: “That’s my affair,” before he realized that it wasn’t an appropriate reply. “Oh, I’ve been in several things,” he corrected himself.”I was in the drug business and then I was in the oil business. But I’m not in either one now.” He looked at me with more attention. “Do you mean you’ve been thinking over what I proposed the other night?”” (Fitzgerald 90). When Gatsby explains his journey to wealth, Nick realizes that Gatsby’s approach in business was dishonest. Although, Gatsby was an underprivileged man who did shady deals to become wealthy. Society saw only his wealth, not how he got his money, just that now he is wealthy and now he is a step closer to the American Dream.
Furthermore, Fitzgerald explains how one’s social status allows them to be “closer” to the “ideals” of the American Dream. “‘I married him because I thought he was a gentleman,’ she said finally. ‘I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.’” (Fitzgerald 38). Myrtle begins to talk about George- her husband- over how he tricked her into marrying him by making her believe he was rich when he was actually poor. Myrtle was a lower class-man who has an affair with Tom due to social status, as a rich ‘ideal’ man. This shows how selfish and materialistic Myrtle was because she mostly cared about money and the things that come along with Tom such as his wealth and social status. This reveals the true negative impact the American Dream has on Myrtle, due to not caring about the affair she is having so she can live her materialistic life with a big social status. “You see I think everything’s terrible anyhow, she went on . . . “”Did you see and trouble on the road?” he asked after a minute. “yes.” he hesitated. “was she killed?” “yes.” “I thought so; I told Daisy I thought so. It’s better that the shock should all come at once. she stood it pretty well.” He spoke as if Daisy’s reaction was the only thing that mattered” (Fitzgerald 153). Nick is speaking to Gatsby over Myrtle’s death, due to the found evidence Gatsby is seen as a suspect because Gatsby’s car was what caused Myrtle’s death. Although Nick believes Gatsby was the one to kill Myrtle it was actually Daisy. Myrtle’s affair with her husband as well as the promising ideals of the American Dream affected Daisy to corrupt herself and kill Myrtle out of jealousy and to continue her lifestyle as an important woman.
Site Title 