The Great Gatsby: Pages 1-12

King Midas

While reading pages one through twelve of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, I came across an allusion that seems to portray a major topic and factor in the book. Main character Nick Carraway describes how, as a young man, he bought certain books regarding topics such as banking and investments with the hope that they would “unfold the shining secrets that only Midas and Morgan and Maecenas knew,” (Fitzgerald, 4). These three men have been preserved in history because of their desire for wealth and their ability to attain it. Although I have only read a small portion of The Great Gatsby, I have already determined that wealth is going to be a prominent topic in the novel. Nick Carraway speaks of the fashionable mansions and affluent families of East and West Egg, Long Island, and the importance of proving one’s wealth. For example, Carraway’s small house is considered an eyesore by the others of the area just because it was not of excessive size and cost. When Carraway partakes in an evening with his former friends, the Buchanans, their obsession over money becomes evident. From Tom’s unconcealed comments about the beauty and extravagance of his home to the lavish descriptions of it, the importance of wealth in the early 1920’s emerges further. However, as myths and stories of historical characters such as Midas come to mind, I wonder whether wealth will lead to downfall in this novel just as it did for King Midas. Oftentimes, wealth can lead to a sense of invincibility and power, two feelings that Tom Buchanan already experiences slightly due to his enormous build and past as a football player. Furthermore, Gatsby, the wealthy title character of the novel, still remains mysterious in his influence on the story. As I continue to read, I am curious to see whether wealth will lead to a positive end, or whether the gold touch of Midas will break men down once again.