Thomas+W+Gatsby

Thomas W

"Money" by Pink Floyd captures the cash obsession seen in many of the characters in __The Great Gatsby__. Gatsby himself can easily be seen in this song's lyrics. Gatsby made a fortune in three years time, this is easliy relateable to "Money" 's quick-cash imagery, particularly in the line "grab the cash with both hands and make a stash." Because of this, a link can be made form this song to all of West Egg, which is the "new money" side of Long Island. Most of the people living in West Egg came into money by their own doing, not inhereitance. They did exactly what "Money" is describing, going out and making as much money as possible, and then showing off in grand, lavish fashion. Gatsby' shows off his cash by host parties where "men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the chmpagne and the stars"(43). This is analogous to"buying a football team" as described by Pink Floyd. The party-goers are usually wealthy like him, but unlike him, they are only concerned with wealth. Nobody at the parties seems to actually care about the people they're around, only making an impression of how rich they are. Many partygoers "came and went without having met Gatsby at all"(45), a clear testament as to how little they really care. Being that Gatsby made his money under allegedly illegal circumstances, this song bears an even greater connection to Gatsby due to how the song emphasizes the connection between money and evil: "Money, so they say, is the root of all evil today." Tom takes the liberty of pointing out that "alot of these newly rich people are jus big bootleggers"(114).

In summary, "Money" by Pink Floyd is heralding cash as the key to happiness; not love or people or experiences, just sheer money. A clear connection can be drawn from this song to the attitude of the inhabitors of West-Egg due to extreme importance placed on money. Money is said to be the key to happiness in the song, and the people of West-Egg seem to have taken that to heart. They have worked extremely hard in through their lives to achieve their wealth, as opposed to inhereitance, and as a result see money as the most important object in their lives. They live their lives in ways described exactly by Pink Floyd.

[] [] Queensryche's "Revolution Calling" is another song that evokes __The Great Gatsby's__ theme of money, and it also conjures the idea of the American Dream. For a long time, the American Dream has been the goal of millions. It is usually categorized from starting as a poor member of the working class and working one's way up to a great wealth and high social status aquiring love and possesion in the process. The American Dream is constantly under speculation in __the Great Gatsby__ from a moral point of view. Fitzgerald's lanugage constantly begs the question, "is the American Dream worth pursuing?" It can be seen throughout the novel that Fitzgerald does not believe it is worth pursuing. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby as a vehicle for this message. Gatsby, who has already achieved wealth and a high social status, is not happy. Even though he has achieved what most people would consider to be the American Dream, because he isn't with Daisy, Gatsby still isn't content.

"Revolution Calling" not only asks the exact same question about the American Dream, but takes the exact same point of view. The song clearly opposes American ideas about money, and argues that there is more to life than money. The connection between the song and Fitzgerald's ideas are clear in the lines, "I used to think That only America's way, way was right But now the holy dollar rules everybody's lives Gotta make a million doesn't matter who dies." This song makes takes on the idea that money has taken over, and made the American Dream unfulfilling and shallow. Love and happiness are no longer a part of the American Dream, only money This is can easily be compared to the characters Daisy. She married her husband, Tom, mostly becuase he was rich. Her voice is described as being, "full of money" (115) which shows even more how obsessed with wealth she is. Nick observes that many of the wealthy people he spends time around are "careless people...they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or vast carelessness" (187-188). These are the people that Queensryche describes as "shady preachers, beggin' for my cash." They have stopped caring about whether or not they are truly satisfied, only that they have money.

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The lyrics to "Walk in the Shadows" by the band Queensryche easily summon images of Gatsby and Daisy. Gatsby and Daisy are two characters in __The Great Gatsby__with a very interesting relationship. The two were former lovers, but were seperated when Gatsby was sent to war and later sent to sea with Dan Cody. In the time Gatsby was gone, Daisy found a new boyfriend and ultimatly husband; Tom Buchanan. This goes hand in hand with the lyric "you're through with me, but I'm not through with you. We've had what others might call love." It is as though "Walk in the Shadows" is being sung by Gatsby, because it perfectly captures his feelings about Daisy and their relationship. The song resembles Daisy's feelings, particularly that she married Tom mostly for his money. This can be seen in the line, "you say you don't feel safe alone tonight Cause you feel the pressure building in your head." This pressure finally causes Daisy to tell Tom that she "never loved him" (139).

The lyrics to "Walk in the Shadows" are very easy to relate to Gatsby and Daisy because of how how close they are to what Gatsby actually says and believes. Gatsby truly does believe Daisy's been waiting for him the past 5 years and was just burning time by being with Tom; "But both of us loved each other all that time, old sport, and you didn't know"(138). Finally, both Gatsby and the lyrics are trying to re-create the past. They both want their lovers to come back so things can go back to the way they used to be. Gatsby makes no attempt to hide his living in the past and neither do the lyrics, "you say it's over now, What's done, what's through?" Both of these men are just trying to bring back the past.

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**__Biff’s Requiem__** Once so bold Now so lost Fosraken by your father And so different than your brother Biff, where’d it go? The old confidence? So well liked and proud Now defeated and flunked “But I will work I will do good” He says with a tone Heard only in years before Do good he does not Which Willy can’t accept That phony-fake That cheating-fake With Willy gone Biff now knows A man must follow his dawn Not whatever he’s told