The story of the great Gatsby can be considered a morally bad one, even though some characters face punishment for their sins.

People commit sin in different ways throughout the book.

  • Characters who commit the sin , know fully that they are doing something wrong. Daisy asks
  • Nick to watch out “In case there’s a fire or a flood” or “any act of good” when she is talking to Gatsby.
  • Honesty – a cardinal virtue –is valued in the book.
  • Myrtle and Gatsby are punished because of their sins, while Daisy and Tom , got away apparently without being punished. They “let other people clean up the mess they had made….”
  • Tom and Daisy’s punishment is the burden of guilt that they will have to carry for the rest of their lives.
  • The only people who are not punished in the book are Jordan and Nick. because they are not guilty of lust.
  • Husbands are indifferent towards their wives in Gatsby’s parties which is morally bad.
  • Almost nobody comes to Gatsby’s funeral, because he has made his money in an illegitimate way.
  • Myrtle’s face “contained no facet or gleam of beauty”, suggesting an association between she and devil.
  • Wives and husbands cheat on each other. Tom on Daisy, Daisy on Tom , Myrtle on Wilson. Family is not valued enough in the book.
  • Nick does not reveal his homosexuality to the readers, because it is morally bad for the time frame of the book.
  • Sloan does not show any respect for Gatsby, suggesting that illegitimate wealth does not buy respect.
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William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)
William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing.
READ:
Great Gatsby: Chapter Five Analysis & Summary
Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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