The primary theme of The Great Gatsby is how upper class people are truly empty on the inside. The wealth ends up getting to their heads resulting in the unhappy life they live. No amount of money can buy permanent happiness. Eventually the happiness fades away when you use money to get it. People keep buying and buying things they want, thinking it will make them happy, but it only leads to temporary happiness.
Daisy is a great example of the hollowness of the upper class. She is selfish, shallow, self centered, and doesn’t seem to have a conscience. Daisy believes that she should stay with Tom, who is having an affair, because he has money and power. She would rather take advantage of the benefits she can get, if she stays with Tom, than find real love with someone else. Upper class people tend to care only about money and try to get as much as possible.
In the novel, Daisy also rarely talks about her child and when she does it’s in a very selfish way. Although, Daisy says, “I woke up out of the ether with …show more content…
Tom is arrogant, unfaithful, aggressive, and a hypocritical bully. He is basically a jerk throughout the whole novel. Nick goes to Tom’s house, at the beginning of the novel, and Tom says, “I've got a nice place here.” Tom shows arrogance by bragging about his own home. Tom is having an affair with Myrtle as well. Which goes to show how he can’t be content or satisfied with anything anymore because everything was handed to him. He hasn't worked a day in his life and didn't earn any of his money. Also, Tom has no self control and can't seem to control his anger. He punches his mistress Myrtle in the nose over something stupid. He doesn't care and thinks he can do whatever he wants. He behaves this way because of his money. He is constantly unsatisfied with what he has that he needs to keep buying his satisfaction. He is spoiled and his life will be forever empty because he took advantage of having tons of