The two texts “The Great Gatsby”, a novel by F.Scott Fitzgerald, and the social documentary “Park Avenue – Money, Power and the American Dream,” presents a serious indictment of the wealth disparity between the Roaring Twenties and the present, both representing symbolism and identity The audience is able to critically see the philosophy with which Americans are washing of the brain to society and have been doing so for decades now. Money brings happiness and all that comes with it, if you work diligently you will automatically be rewarded with success and happiness in life. The idea of the American Dream is that no matter what class level you are in you were born or what class you currently belong to, you have the opportunity to achieve your success. The gap between the lower class and the upper class, advantages and disadvantages on the economic ladder, social status and equality depend on their background. , their place of birth, their family history and consequently their educational and professional path. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout The Great Gatsby, it is clear that the novel's protagonist Jay Gatsby is shown falling in love with Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby wants Daisy so much that anything that comes between them becomes the antagonist. Class differences, social expectations, and Gatsby's past lies are the strong antagonists. Early in the novel, Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby's neighbor and also the novel's narrator, informs the audience that at the end of Daisy's East Egg Pier, just visible from Gatsby's West Egg lawn, lies the light green. The green light symbolizes hopes and dreams, particularly those of Gatsby. But it also illustrates money and the greed people feel because of it. The light was a sense of love for Gatsby because he knew Daisy was on the other side. This is how Fitzgerald used light to symbolize love and many other important aspects. Gatsby has acquired great wealth through his illegal activities, but is still excluded from the upper classes by those who were born rich. Daisy is described as "the golden girl", although the green light is associated with her, Daisy likes to associate herself with gold and silver, the most durable forms of currency. Therefore the green light represents the money available to people like Gatsby, the kind of people who would do anything to get it, compared to people like Daisy, who inherited wealth, is out of reach. There is a reason why green light is green and not just regular white light, because green is the color of greed and power. Fitzgerald had the green light belong specifically to Daisy due to her greed for money and power. In the novel Gatsby and Nick are having a conversation about Daisy, Gatsby clearly says “Her voice is full of money” (pg. 120), this shows the audience the type of character Daisy is and what she believes money can do for her. Greed causes nobility, lack of wisdom, kindness and love, four things Daisy got caught up in. Daisy married a man for his money and not for his love. He was incapable of love. “The chasm between rich and poor is starting to look like the Grand Canyon,” says narrator Alex Gibney in the documentary Park Avenue, to compare and use as a metaphor the immoral injustices of capitalism. The wealthiest American citizens have “rigged the game in their favor” and created unprecedented inequality in the United States. The rich bribe politicians through lobbying to further their interests. On one side of Park Avenue in the South Bronx, people live on the streets and those with a roof over their heads struggle to survive.
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