The novel The Great Gatsby demonstrates people who value money over almost anything. Through a mystery of determining who a man is, the reader finds out what the costs of putting money on such a high pedestal actually are. The characters completely disregard friendship, love, and hope for money.
             Many of the characters determine their social lives and friendships based on money. Tom goes riding with other rich people not because he knows them well and likes them, but because the are on his level in the monetary hierarchy. It is obvious to the reader that Tom puts money first. He never speaks of the great conversations he has, or the fantastic personality of a friend, but only about where, when, and how they received their money. He despises Gatsby because of his questionable background calling him a "Mr. Nobody". This hatred is spawn from Gatsby's lack of a prominent heritage and the fact that he lives on the less fashionable West Egg.
             Going beyond just social interaction, love is influenced by the wealth of the characters. Daisy loved Gatsby, but decided not to wait for him during the war. She instead was distracted by the glamour of Tom's wealth and married him without love. Even after it becomes apparent that Tom is having affairs she stays with him because of the security of his wealth. Tom also keeps a mistress who is awed by his money. He does not truly care for her, and she knows that. He breaks her nose and still she looks over his faults in character only seeing the money. It is her amazement with Tom's financial stability that keeps her coming back for more.
             Hope also becomes an aspiration that is tossed to the side. Gatsby is one of the few characters in the novel that the reader does not view as shallow and yet he is one of the main characters worried about money. Although extremely hopeful that his dream will come true, he feels that he needs to acquire fancy possessions s...