The Interpretation of the American Dream in the Song of Solomon and the Great Gatsby

Monetary Wealth and Materialism

Monetary Wealth and materialism are two components that both, The Song of Solomon as well as The Great Gatsby share. These stories translate "The American Dream" and consequently emphasize the importance of the function that cash plays in each of their character's lives. Within each of these stories, the presence of a yearning for wealth within the personalities as well as their decisions ex lover- ists as a way of social criticism that exhibits the corruption that coincides with materialism. The personalities buy into the concept that cash will certainly offer joy and also therefore a sense of satisfaction. Nonetheless, oftentimes, a too much amount of money can create one to become vacant and also troubled. Money can offer deluxe as well as ease yet it does not have the ability to alleviate all troubles. Toni Morrison and also F. Scott Fitzgerald disclose this concept in The Great Gatsby as well as The Song of Solomon with concentrate on their personality's interest to cash and also standing which results in their overall corruption.

The Great Gatsby highlighted financial affluent via several personality as well as themes throughout the book. Cash is a huge incentive in the personality's partnerships and also drive. The character's disclose themselves to be highly materialistic, especially when making decisions. Tom as well as Daisy's connection is supported by their cash. They have the ability to be part of the upper-class elite because of their high socioeconomic standing. They make the most of what they have which has negative effects on the lives of other people. The narrator, Nick, is awkward as a result of the means Tom and also Daisy inadequately managed their disruptive acts. Because he is totally revolted, he doesn't also desire to tremble Tom's hand after running into him.

"I couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely

justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and

Daisy-they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money

on their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other peo-

ple clean up the mess they made...." (Fitzgerald, 179)

Tom and Daisy stay together due to Tom's riches that Daisy is brought in to. Since they are abundant, they do despicable acts and also obtain away with it. They think that due to the fact that they have money they are superior to others that do not have as long as them. Due to the fact that their cash is blinding, they do not stick to morality. Nick observes that while Myrtle, George, as well as Gatsby have all passed away, Tom and Daisy are not punished at all for their activities or behavior. The couple utilizes their cash as a shield to avoid obligation. While they technically have caused three fatalities, they are still able to live how they would certainly like because they have the means to do so. They make use of cash to escape from their troubles yet eventually money can not bring people back after they are dead. Tom and also Daisy subconsciously know this, which is why they choose to escape. Nick sees past their external expression of their riches and also is dissatisfied with who they are underneath their cash guard. He can not forgive what they have done to Myrtle, George, and also Gatsby. Their activities are not endured by Nick which verifies that money can deny mercy. Fitzgerald accomplishes the idea of corruption as a result of riches though Daisy. She is a character that has actually prioritized wealth but has come to realize that she isn't pleased. Her money has not al- lowed her to locate happiness.

"You see I think everything's terrible anyhow," she went on in a convinced way. "Every- body thinks so the most advanced people. And I know. I've been everywhere and done everything." Her eyes flashed around her in a defiant way, rather like Tom's, and she laughed with thrilling scorn. "Sophisticated-God, I'm sophisticated!"(Fitzgerald, 17)

Sissy has led a life supported by financial wealth. She has actually traveled the world and also had accessibility to the unimaginable. Yet, she still assumes her life is awful. Because cash can not purchase one's joy, she thinks this. She believes she has actually already seen all that the globe has to offer, but in actual- ity, she has just seen what cash can purchase. Since it has actually been built on materialism, she is left unsatisfied by the life she has actually selected to live. She is triggering from a location of arrogance. Fitzger- ald emphasizes this when describing her eyes. They "blinked around her in a defiant method, rather like Tom's." Daisy, like her partner, speaks from a blessed perspective. She knows that she is fortunate. She remains specific in her word but is insincere. She is pompous and also carries her- self therefore. She uses her condition as a way to conceal that she actually is. She remains in fact an unpleasant per- kid who is left empty on the within yet she surrounds herself with product items that stopped working to make her feel much better regarding herself.

Toni Morrison executes the theme surrounding the anxiety to have access to cash though Milkman Dead's character. Milkman embarks on his very own pursuit for success which he ini- tially believes is Pilate's gold. Milkman shares his dad's materialistic worths. He has no empa- thy for those whom he perceives as being inferior to him economically. The gold is blinds Milk- guy's feeling of principles as he intends to swipe Pilate's gold for himself in order to gain freedom. His papa has actually always expressed that money is the key to one's freedom. Macon Dead states to his kid, "You'll possess it all. All of it. You'll be totally free. Cash is flexibility, Macon. The only actual freedom there is."( 163) Macon emphasizes the relevance of money to his son. He thinks that the only means to be free, is to have enough cash to support on your own. Milkman thinks this too which leads him to act in manner ins which he would not if cash was not the concern. Macon Dead wants his son to "reclaim" what he thinks Pilate stole from him. Macon Dead desires his kid to basically swipe this cash back. He claims, "Macon, get it and also you can have half of it; go wherever you desire. Get it. For both people. Please get it, boy. Get the gold." When he states that money is the essential to being cost-free,( 172) Milkman desires to obtain out of the community he has grown up in and thinks his papa. Therefore, he consents to taking back the gold from Pilate. Milkman's daddy manipu- lates him right into assuming that the money will certainly minimize what has actually been creating him anxiety. Milkman believes that this gold will address every one of the issues that he thinks he has as a result of the truth that he has no cash. His dad stress him into obtaining the money by explaining what he will certainly be able to do with it. Although Milkman recognizes that taking is wrong, he is hopeless to be free. Milkman thinks the cash will bring salvation and happiness.

Milkman wanted watercrafts, automobiles, planes, and also the command of a huge crew. He would be wayward, generous, mysterious with his cash. But all the time he was chuckling as well as going on concerning what he would certainly do as well as just how he planned to live, he was aware of a false- ness in his voice. He desired the money-desperately, he believed however apart from mak- ing tracks out of the city, away from Not Doctor Streetm as well as Sonny's Shop, and also Mary's Place and also Hagar, he could not visualize a life that a lot different from the one he had.( 179-180).

Milkman wants all the product items that money can buy. He fantasizes about the turf being greener beyond. He intends to live an extravagant life filled with luxurious products that he believes will bring him delight and also happiness. He believes that access to a large amount of cash will bring him away from the globe that he has actually recognized his entire life. Nonetheless, he recognizes the "false- ness in his voice." Milkman recognizes that this imagined life is deep and also optimistic down he recognizes that it might not bring him specifically what he requires since money can just give worldly things. It can not provide one with emotional support. Milkman is trying to find emotional support yet the money will only obtain him until now. He can not visualize a different life because he has known the.

same one his whole life. His environment hasn't changed, consequently his frame of mind hasn't changed. He can not see what he has actually never been revealed to, which leaves him longing for the money extra. Milkman intends to break away from parents and the life they have developed on their own. However, he doesn't recognize that by prioritizing monetary wealth, he will wind up much like the person he wishes to run from his dad. Even after Milkman get to gold, it is not assured that the troubles brought on by his youth will certainly just disappear.

Monetary riches is a principle that is prioritized in both The Great Gatsby and Song of Solomon. The personalities that earn money an important part of their life are the ones that are the most lost due to the fact that cash does not give psychological security. Money can only do so much be- fore one understands it is not nearly enough. Fitzgerald as well as Morrison both highlight this factor by permitting the visitor to acquire insight on each of the personality's lives and just how money does not improve their overall happiness. Money can offer specific eases however can not get rid of all issues to deal with. Cash can just do so much prior to one realizes that money can deny happiness in the grand scheme of things. Fitzgerald and Morrison make an effort to reveal this with use their personality's journey to identifying this motif for themselves.

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