Mesmerizing Greed

    The Star Money, an old fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, tells of a girl who lost her parents and was left penniless. Regardless of her circumstances, however, she never refused to help those around her; she even gave away her clothes to those in need. Her selflessness was acknowledged and blessed by the sky, giving her more than she ever imagined. Each star in the sky fell to the ground, turning into silver coins. Because of her generosity towards others, she was awarded with unimaginable wealth. 

    However, another recounting suggests a different perspective on the story. Overwhelmed by the wealth given to her, the girl became obsessive and strived to gather as many stars as possible. Overtaken by her greed, the girl is punished and imprisoned in the night sky to remind others of the consequences of greed. While this is meant to be a children's tale, it emphasizes a significant theme present in The Great Gatsby, specifically in the life of Myrtle Wilson.

    The Great Gatsby heavily touches on the issues surrounding wealth and how blinding it can be to one's identity and morals. As seen in Myrtle's life, she was willing to stay in an unhappy and abusive relationship rather than live her previous life in the Valley of Ashes. This idea is further reflected upon as she continues to have an affair with Tom Buchanan, eventually costing her her life. Symbolized significantly throughout the novel, cars represent wealth in society. The emphasis placed on cars is not accidental but rather stresses how greed and materialism can have detrimental consequences-Myrtle's death. Similar to The Star Money tale, it shows how greed can blur one's values, ending in ruin. At the end of the story, the girl is surrounded by stars but has no means of using them. Rather than the life both hoped for, their materialistic and obsessive views of wealth led to their downfall. Their lives emphasize how wealth can be a suffocating lie.