Tragic Consequences of Carelessness
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic American novel, The Great Gatsby, several of the principal characters live mindless, indulgent and irresponsible life styles where consequence is only an afterthought. Indeed, Daisy, Tom and Jordan exhibit a carelessness that exposes the true corruption of the American dream. The social class to which these characters belong allows for them to do as they please and carry on with their selfish actions. Selfishness is also a trait found in other characters within the novel, and this attribute with its resulting carelessness eventually results in tragedy. The vulgar pursuit of wealth during the 1920's is carried through the text and displayed in various ways by every character's thoughtless attitude. This corruptive influence of wealth and materialism even directly affects and ruins the lives of the less affluent individuals in the novel. Throughout the book, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan seem to exhibit a position of indifference. They do not portray concern about anything of substance, aside from themselves. Because the inherited social status of these characters has desensitized them to various emotions, they seem disinterested in a world that does not revolve around them. While these three are
From the start of the novel, Nick accurately characterizes Daisy and Tom as people who, "drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together" (10). Daisy Buchanan, accustomed to wealth, adoration, and luxury, prompts Gatsby's murder with her own careless actions. Her inattentive driving directly causes the death of her husband's mistress Myrtle Wilson, and ultimately this reckless behavior inadvertently causes the murder of Gatsby. Because of her excessively self-indulgent behavior, Daisy proceeds to bring about the destruction of the two people she had loved, Tom and Gatsby. Along with the other main figures in this novel, Tom shows an unyielding disregard for his wife or others. Tom's heedless affair with Myrtle Wilson illustrates their lack of concern for both Daisy and George. The relationship is painfully obvious to Daisy and in the end, causes Myrtle's death and agonizing consequences for her husband. George's realization of this affair and its traumatic aftermath is shown after the accident. "It was the man in that car. She ran out to speak to him and he wouldn't stop" (166) he says. This sent him on his unrelenting pursuit of self-destruction. Nick correctly realizes that these superficial characters
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Approximate Word count = 847
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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