Intro

Work is an integral part in any functioning society. Jobs provide can many services such as transportation or food industry. But what are the consequences to both society and individuals when they don’t work?

The first answer should be fairly obvious; without work society wouldn’t function properly. An example of this being the Great Depression. This was a time of massive unemployment, a shocking development after just having a time of prosperity during the Roaring 20s. Which of course, was the problem.

Since companies had overproduction issues, they encouraged people to consume more products leading people to have the mentality of saving their money to buy more things. As the rich accumulated and kept both old and new money, less currency was spread through the economy resulting in a subsequent market crash.

While of course unemployment can lead to poverty and homelessness, for the rich it meant having nothing to do. Since they were so financially secure, they had to fill their days with other purposes. Since the Great Gatsby is set during the 1920s, this is what it is mainly focused on.

An example of this is Daisy and Tom Buchanan, who were rich from old money and therefore did not have to work. They instead filled their days with anything of interest at the time. Daisy was always able to drift from place to place and trend to trend, and she craved stability and a purpose. Tom always was looking for a way to bring back or top the “glory days” of his past. From this they developed an extreme carelessness for items and people since they could always be replaced.

On the opposite side of this example is Gatsby and Nick, who both had to work for their money. Nick throughout the novel, is shown to fill his days with work but still make time for leisure with friends, demonstrating an admirable balance. Gatsby is shown to have gained an admirable work ethic to get to be rich. He learned to discipline and pace himself, learnjng the value of work to achieve a goal.

Through these characters Fitzgerald shows how work teaches valuable lessons that develop character and give a worker a sense of purpose. Without work we are left looking for ways to pass the time, which can be proven dangerous as many turn automatically to worldly pleasures.

Readers are shown what mistakes can be made with the mentality of “anything broken or unused can be replaced” and the effects of chasing after material things. Jobs are a helpful distraction from the staple of life and teaches the value of money.

In conclusion, working is important because it contributes to the community, brings mental growth, encourages a healthier work ethic, and gives people a purpose.

Works cited