The Great Gatsby Literary Argument Essay

This essay responds to the following prompt: “Young people, nowadays, [said Lord Fermor] imagine that money is everything.” ​ “Yes,” murmured Lord Henry, . . . “and when they grow older they know it.” —Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) ​ Either from your own reading or from the list below, choose a work of fiction in which a character’s attitude toward money illustrates or contradicts Lord Henry’s observation. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how the complex role of money in the character’s life contributes to an interpretation of the work as a whole. Remember MLA format. The essay is based on your interpretation and understanding of The Great Gatsby. This prompt is an example of something that you would find on the AP Lit exam. The essay earned a five out of six on the rubric. Use this essay as a resource for the exam in order to get an idea of what essay graders are looking for.