Opinion: The pursuit of wealth and the downfall it causes.

 In the Great Gatsby, we see Jay Gatsby’s ascent to power, wealth and status, outlined in Chapter 6. The skills that he learnt from Dan Cody, were invaluable, but with no money, Gatsby, or James Gatz had not starting point. It is when he meets Daisy, and they are separated by class, and Daisy’s marriage, that he gains a sense of determination. I believe that this determination is what causes his downfall.

Gatsby’s rise to power is aided by Meyer Wolfsheim’s bootlegging industry. I personally found that to be in stark contrast to Gatsby and his nature. Gatsby seems cultured, and a man of ‘fine breeding’, as Meyer Wolfsheim describes him. However, we can see Gatsby’s inner passions come to light as he spends more time with Daisy. 

Gatsby may have pursued his wealth, and got it, we can see that he failed in his ultimate goal: getting Daisy. We can see Gatsby’s carefully constructed mask unravel as he goes from a generally stoic personality, to a man of passion, as he exclaims/yells at Tom in their exchange. Even when Daisy runs Myrtle Wilson over, Gatsby takes the fall. This costs him his life. Had he ‘ratted out’ Daisy, he might have survived, and continued to live his affluent life. Instead, his tendency to be a simp, cost him everything. Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth indirectly cost him everything. Had he just let Daisy be, and not pursued her with every inch of his being, he might not have been as rich, but he wouldn’t be dead.