A Comparison Between Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby and Veblens The Theory

Fitzgeralds outstanding Gatsby and Veblens The Theory of the untenanted Class The American ambition is real Americans are able to rise out of poverty and into leisurely lifestyles with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work. Fitzgeralds The wide Gatsby and Thorstein Veblens The Theory of the Leisure Class both address issues of status and riches that arise from peoples pursuits of the American Dream. But the authors differ in their beliefs well-nigh the genius and motives of peoples pursuits of wealthiness. To begin with, Fitzgerald disagrees with Veblens notion of pecuniary emulation as being intimate behavior (a goal in and of itself). He does this by conveying that Gatsbys golden lifestyle is as extravagant as it is only because it is goal-driven (Gatsby wants to get Daisys attention). Fitzgeralds ideas about the consequences of conspicuous leisure and conspicuous consumption are no little critical of Veblens theory. Fitzgerald conveys that those who engag e in pecuniary emulation invite superficiality into their social lives and relationships-a consequence which Veblen fails to even consider. Furthermore, Fitzgerald disagrees with Veblens belief that pecuniary emulation is go through (it demands superstars focus) by subjecting characters such as Gatsby and Nick to different levels of non-consuming materialism. Fitzgerald believes that the pursuit of wealth for the purpose of invidious distinction is not what Veblen claims it is--that is, that the pursuit is neither intrinsic, fulfilling, nor of necessity consuming. Fitzgerald sees pecuniary emulation as voluntary, non-intrinsic human behavior. In The Theory of the Leisure Class, Veblen writes that wealth ... ...burse and use money-probably because he was a multimillionaire. Because of the biases inherent to the discussion of wealth, one must consider all of societys sentiments in order to obtain a comprehensive rear from which meaningful discourse can spring. Re sources such as The Great Gatsby and Theory of the Leisure Class allow that ideal basis to become ever more tangible. Works Cited and Consulted Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Simon and Schuster Inc., New York 1991. Hobsbawm, Eric. The eon of Extremes. New York Pantheon, 1994. Mizener, Arthur, ed. F. Scott Fitzgerald A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, NJ Prentice-Hall, 1963. Raleigh, John Henry. F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. Mizener 99-103. Thorstein Veblen, The Theory of the Leisure Class (New York and London Macmillan, 1899