Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, The Great Gatsby, the hollow nature of the upper class is a major theme. One learns that the people of the upper class are wasteful of their money in order to impress others. Also, to them, money comes before love meaning it is what they value most. Further more, the upper class are unfulfilled in life as well as unhappy. Ergo, one can conclude there is a distinct shallowness among the upper class in the 1920's supported by the attitudes of the characters in the novel.
The amount of money the upper class wasted to impress others contributes to the shallowness of the group. The parties, the cars, the clothing, and the alcohol, were all purchased and consumed in excess in order to be boastful of their wealth.Gatsby's parties were a prime example of this showmanship. During this time, Gatsby was living in his outrageous and gaudy mansion where he threw extravagant parties and would allow anyone to come. He showed off his home as well as let the guests enjoy varieties of different alcoholic drinks on his behalf, which suggests Gatsby's inclination to be perceived as grand. His middle-class neighbor Nick Carraway noted: "At high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower of his raft, or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two motor-boats slit the waters of the sound. " Carraway refers to Gatsby's guests enjoying his home to have fun in (pg.41). There was unnecessary entertainment including orchestras and many caterers waiting upon the guests with all different kinds of foods, as well as bars filled with cocktails. Jay Gatsby would rarely enjoy himself at his own parties, instead preferring to watch everybody talk about how mysterious he was and how awesome it was to be there. Although he mainly threw the parties so his long-lost love Daisy would one day return, he still admired all the attention the parties brought his way, and how much others brought up his name.
