Manipulative Money

"Money money money, always sunny, in a rich man's world"
        -"Money", Abba

Relationships with other members of society heavily rely on one's social class, especially in The Great Gatsby. Daisy, a young, "excitingly desirable" (pg 148) girl is influenced by the standards of her "rich, full life" (pg 149). In her early adulthood, she falls in love with Gatsby, who was considered to be middle-class at the time. Although their relationship is strong, Daisy cannot commit to it because Gatsby lacks a status of old wealth. She is "flattered" when Tom Buchanan appears in her "artificial world"(pg 150), because he is contained within the wealthy class, exactly what she desires. It is the burden of a pompous social class that persuades her to marry into money. She initially rejects Gatsby when he lacks wealth, but she appeals him once he feigns righteousness. Her implanted prejudice ultimately affects her relationship with Gatsby because social status determines her appearance in society. She is unwilling to release herself from her colossal fortune, and this affects her relationship with Gatsby because he would downgrade her status. Gatsby states, "Her voice is full of money" (pg 120), which immediately implies that money is what she truly cares about, and her wealthy status is too important to give up for a man. Because Daisy's social class is a dominating feature in her life, its wealthy ideals are prominent in her relationships with others.