Money Isn't Everything

In chapter 4, we see even with all of Gatsby’s wealth, he is depressed, and didn’t really have much of a will to live after his family died. 

“He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor” (Fitzgerald 78).  Gatsby’s life is so empty that he uses his wealth and mansion to feel somewhat satisfied.

When we look at celebrities and those with wealth, we wholeheartedly believe that their lives are perfect.  It doesn’t occur to us at all that they could be depressed or be struggling with anxiety.  The saying “money isn’t everything” comes to mind.  Even though one may seem that they have everything to make them happy, we don’t realize that perhaps wealth could be the reason that is hindering their happiness.  Gatsby’s wealth did not fix him, but Daisy did—he found some will to live in her. 

Considering celebrities and mental illness, I believe we should try to remove that stigma that they are not people and experience things like depression and anxiety.  I admit it, when I’ve looked at people like Lady Gaga or Beyoncé, it never occurred to me that their lives were anything but perfect.  Nowadays we see celebrities actively open up and express their experiences about mental health and encourage others to do the same, which should be more talked about.  What I think is quite refreshing about reading The Great Gatsby so far is that we can see how far we’ve come as a society in certain aspects.