Capitalism was employed as the major economic system to be used across the West in response to the negatively viewed aristocracy that was in place prior to capitalism. Aristocracy is essentially any system in which the few very wealthy have a disproportionate amount of control over the land and people living on it. The feudal system is an example of an aristocracy. Ironically, capitalism, in it’s development, has transformed itself into a new type of aristocracy in Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”, with the similar end results capitalists tried to avoid. The rich have all the wealth and power, and the poor working class are burdened with all the work, for very little in return.
Mr. Gatsby, the capitalist hero in the novel “The Great Gatsby” by Scott Fitzgerald, is a self made millionaire. He resides in West Egg, which is unofficially the neighbourhood for the newly formed capitalist aristocrats. Here, much like in more traditional aristocrat living areas, such as East Egg, huge displays of wealth are commonplace despite the presence of
the desperately poor who try to eek out a living just below in the Valley of Ashes. When these displays come to an end, the poor come out of their living quarters to clean up the mess, and be thankful for it, as they need the small amount of money they will make cleaning. In modern day America, according to Scriptonite Daily, “The top 0.1% own 81% of the world’s wealth, whilst the bottom 99.9% hold only 19%” (Scriptonite Daily). Much like the rich described in the novel, today’s aristocrats enjoy making huge amounts of money used for their own interests, which often times involves limiting the opportunity of the working class. The aristocracy that is emerging in Fitzgerald’s novel also removes the idea that every person is born equal, regardless of financial status. As an example, Daisy’s daughter will have huge advantages over those in her generation born into poverty, both in terms of nutrition and health conditions, but also in her ability to access a higher education. This is also reflected in today’s world, with the rich’s children having a head start in attaining their professional goals. According to Scriptonite Daily, Conservative party candidate Maria Hutchings let her intention to have her son go to a more prestigious school known when she was questioned why her son wouldn’t attend a state school. Her dismissal of the educational needs and desires of other, less financially privileged students emphasizes her ability to have her son do what he pleases due to her wealth.
The symptoms of an aristocracy are all present, with the majority of wealth belonging to a small few, to the next generation being born into a class system, to the opportunity of the working class being limited by those at the top. It is clear an aristocracy has already re-established itself in American society.
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