Ethics in Gatsby: An Examination of American Values by Tony McAdams

Précis of “Ethics in Gatsby: An Examination of American Values”

Tony McAdams proposes that Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby is representative of Fitzgerald’s opinions of American values. The characters allow Fitzgerald to comment on morals and the disappointments caused by the American dream. McAdams points out that all of the characters are liars in some underlying way and all have “cavalier attitudes toward the truth”. McAdams highlights that even though Gatsby is a “boorish fraud”, we admire him because he is true to himself (McAdams 114). McAdams finds Fitzgerald’s subtle comments on values of Americans intertwined in his writing; most Americans have low values of honesty and are more likely to respect those who are true to themselves. McAdams believes Fitzgerald is troubled by “the unfairness of a culture marked by great divisions of wealth”, and his bias comes through in Gatsby (McAdams 115). Fitzgerald creates “transparent” characters in his novel, like Daisy and Tom, to express his doubts about the wealthy world and its divisions.
McAdams provides several interpretations of The Great Gatsby. His idea that Fitzgerald uses the characters to comment on the morals and disappointments caused by the American dream is supported by Tom and Myrtle’s poor morals, and Gatsby’s devastating realization that he is unable to achieve his American dream, to woo Daisy. While Gatsby is a fraud, he maintains the support of the reader because he follows his values and does not let the word of others sway him. Even though Daisy has a husband and a daughter, he does not let that deter him from his dream of being with Daisy. McAdams’ assertion that Fitzgerald incorporates his opinions on the values of Americans in his novel is entirely accurate. He dislikes liars and individuals who barely value honesty. This is seen through his negative portrayal of Daisy and Tom; he describes them in a pitiless way in order to turn the readers against them. The unfairness of a culture divided by wealth is seen through the actions of Daisy and Tom. Daisy lets Gatsby volunteer to take the blame for killing Myrtle even though it was not his fault. Similarly, Tom tells Wilson that it was Gatsby’s car, in order to deter Wilson and protect himself and his family. It is accurate that Daisy and Tom are rather transparent characters; they allow innocent people to take the blame for their own mistakes. Fitzgerald makes the divide between the wealthy and less wealthy apparent through their differing values and lifestyles. For example, Gatsby is very wealthy and casually throws extravagant parties. Meanwhile Myrtle, a less wealthy individual is desperate to jump the divide and be in the wealthier class, seen through her tackily decorated apartment.


A few words about Tony McAdams
He has written books on business, law, and ethics and has articles published in The Journal of Business Ethics, the Harvard Business Review, and The American Business Law Journal.

Works Cited
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004.
McAdams, Tony. “Ethics in Gatsby: An Examination of American Values.” The Great Gatsby as a Business Inquiry. 1993. 111-119


Katie Minnock, Sara Bonner, Molly Kiniry