Happiness cannot be obtained through wealth or power alone.
Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby,.
many of the characters search for happiness through material possessions, power, and/or beauty.
but never find it.
Tom Buchanan, an overbearing, "hulking" man, desires power. "Everything he does in the.
book comes from his selfish attempt to keep himself in a certain strata while denying anyone else.
access" (Maurer 24). He wants to be superior to everyone, including his wife, Daisy. Tom.
constantly cheats on her and is not ashamed of it at all. He almost seems proud of it. Tom.
chooses lower (economic and social) class women to make himself feel even more superior. Tom.
even goes so far as to hit Myrtle in the face and break her nose. He thinks that he does not have.
to pay any consequences for his actions. .
Tom enjoys his material possessions. He likes having them to increase his self-worth. He.
says " "I've got a nice place here" " (Fitzgerald 12). This statement reveals his pride for his.
wealth. His possessions give him a sense of security. "Behind the facade of the rich is money and.
carelessness--the two protections upon which, in moments of crisis, they fall back, leaving those.
outside to sink or swim as best they can" (Mizener 114). Despite having all the world has to.
offer, Tom's life is still empty.
Daisy tries using her beauty to obtain happiness. She uses it to attach herself to people.
with money and power. She believes in beauty so much that she says this about her daughter, " "I.
hope she"ll be a fool. That's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool" ".
(Fitzgerald 21). .
Another way she tries to find happiness is through her material possessions. Even though.
she really loves Gatsby, she marries Tom because he can give her a better lifestyle (more stuff). .
Daisy is so dependent on this wealthy lifestyle that she puts up with Tom's affairs. She cannot.
stand the thought of not living her "high class" life.
