MORALITY AND CORRUPTION IN F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S THE GREAT GATSBY

Abstract

Abstract: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby presents a nuanced exploration of morality and corruption in the Jazz Age, revealing how ethical decay permeates both personal relationships and social structures. This article examines the moral lapses of key characters, particularly Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and Jay Gatsby, and analyzes how their pursuit of wealth and social prestige results in corruption and ethical compromise. Through close textual analysis and engagement with critical scholarship, the study demonstrates that Fitzgerald critiques a society driven by materialism, social status, and moral indifference. The findings suggest that corruption operates on both individual and societal levels, ultimately leading to disillusionment and tragedy.