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Essay / Essay on Materialism in The Great Gatsby - 994
Nick observes: “On weekends his Rolls Royce became an omnibus, ferrying groups to and from the city between nine a.m. and well after midnight, while that his station wagon raced like a bright yellow insect to meet all the trains” (Fitzgerald 39). Gatsby doesn't just throw massive parties, his vehicles collect his uninvited guests so they can attend his parties with ease. The majority of guests do not know Gatsby, yet arrive in droves to join in the excess fun. Gatsby believes that hosting a large number of people will increase his chances of finding someone who can reconnect him with Daisy. Furthermore, his strategy is to relay the story of his excesses to Daisy so that she will be impressed by his material wealth. Symbolically, the instruments that allow us to reconnect with Daisy are Gatsby's flamboyant automobiles. Gatsby's cars represent his need for attention and his lack of a true identity beyond materialism. These failures lead to its eventual success.