The Hollowness of the Upper Class

FIRST PARAGRAPH

T: Fitzgerald condemns the carelessness and moral emptiness of the upper class, portraying them as destructive and indifferent to the consequences of their actions.

E: After Gatsby’s death, Nick observes that “they were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money.”

E: This indifference underscores how the wealthy use privilege as a shield from accountability. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the Buchanans’ irresponsibility reflects his broader criticism of the social elite during the Jazz Age.

L: In this way, Fitzgerald exposes the upper class as morally bankrupt, suggesting that their wealth isolates them from both empathy and consequence.

SECOND PARAGRAPH

T: Fitzgerald intensifies his critique of the upper class by showcasing the protection that the wealth of ‘Old Money’ can provide, expressing his distaste for the corrupted nature that these people live in.

E: The Buchanans’ reaction to Gatsby’s death (packing up their house in the East Egg and going on “holiday”) symbolises the fear of a tarnished reputation, as personal image is everything to the upper class. Daisy, before the death of Gatsby, “…vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby - nothing”, choosing the protection of the wealth that Tom can provide to her.
E: Fitzgerald’s tone of disillusionment shows his deeper criticism for the morality of the upper class, and highlights this through his portrayal of Nick Carraway’s disgust at their immoral nature.
L: This reinforces the idea that privilege breeds moral decay, and that those with “careless” nature are those who do not have empathy and cannot face the consequences of the choices they make.