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Literary Analysis Essay

Franklin’s Maxims vs. The Great Gatsby

Sarah Renee Maharajh

Keiser University, Department of General Education

AML1000: American Literature

Dr. Audra Spicer

November 20, 2024

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Franklin’s Maxims vs. The Great Gatsby

Benjamin Franklin’s “The Way to Wealth” provides insightful reflections on human behavior,

encapsulated in pithy maxims. In Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby, Franklin’s

aphorisms find new relevance in the lives of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway through the

actions, motivations, and consequences experienced by these characters. Gatsby’s lavish lifestyle

illustrates the consequences of extravagance in his pursuit of love, Daisy demonstrates the peril of

disregarding logic and accountability, leading to devastating outcomes, and Nick’s reliance on hope

without action reveals its ultimate emptiness. Franklin’s wisdom is reflected in the film’s exploration of

wealth, love, and disillusionment through three maxims that these characters embody- “Fools make

feasts, and wise men eat them”, “If you will not hear reason, she’ll surely rap your knuckles”, and “He

that lives upon hope will die fasting”.

Jay Gatsby embodies Franklin’s maxim of “Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them” (Franklin,

1758/2023, p. 192) through his ostentatious lifestyle and entire approach to life and love. Gatsby is a

self-made millionaire with big dreams from humble beginnings. He symbolizes the “American Dream” in

the 1920’s but shows how the dream can become corrupt and unattainable. Materialistic and dishonest,

his characteristics are predominantly fueled by his limerence over Daisy Buchanan and serve as a

metaphorical feast crafted to win Daisy's love. Gatsby's misplaced devotion extends beyond material

wealth to a fundamental miscalculation of relationships. His financial success, achieved through dubious

means, is directed solely toward rekindling his romance with Daisy, a goal that ultimately benefits others

more than himself. Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s husband, is a prime example of the "wise man" who

indirectly profits from Gatsby's efforts. Tom retains his social and marital position without engaging in

the excesses Gatsby embraces. Similarly, the

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Franklin’s Maxims vs. The Great Gatsby

partygoers who revel in Gatsby’s wealth abandon him when tragedy strikes, leaving him isolated and

unfulfilled. Nick Carraway somberly summarizes this scenario, “I rang, wrote, I implored. But not a single

one of the sparkling hundreds that enjoyed his hospitality attended the funeral. And from Daisy, not

even a flower” (Luhrmann, 2013). Gatsby's vision of a grand, romantic reunion is never realized, proving

that others consumed his feast while he remained hungry for the connection he sought.

Daisy Buchanan embodies Franklin’s maxim of “If you will not hear reason, she’ll surely rap your

knuckles” (Franklin, 1758/2023, p. 194) through her denial of reality and avoidance of responsibility.

Daisy’s life is marked by her refusal to confront the moral consequences of her actions, culminating in

tragic outcomes for those around her. Daisy Buchanan is an emotionally complex, albeit melancholy,

woman who ultimately chooses wealth over true love. She clings to her privilege, using wealth and

charm to deflect accountability for her choices. Daisy’s refusal to confront the reality of Gatsby’s

obsession and the danger it creates reflects her selfishness. Her desires for security and privilege

outweigh her emotional connections, and her indecision and manipulation exacerbate the conflict

between Gatsby and Tom, culminating in the climactic confrontation where her inability to choose fuels

further chaos. Her failure to face the consequences of her actions leads to devastating outcomes,

particularly in the death of Myrtle Wilson and the ruin of Gatsby. When Daisy’s recklessness leads to

Myrtle Wilson’s death, she leaves Gatsby to shoulder the blame. Nick condemns her aloofness,

remarking, "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy. They smashed up things and people and then

retreated back into their money and their vast carelessness” (Luhrmann, 2013). Her emotional

detachment and moral weakness render her incapable

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Franklin’s Maxims vs. The Great Gatsby

of growth, leaving destruction in her wake while shielding herself from its fallout. Ultimately, the

"knuckles" of Gatsby and Myrtle are "rapped" in tragic ways, while Daisy retreats into her world of

privilege, allowing others to suffer the fallout of her indecision.

Nick Carraway, the story's narrator, personifies the maxim, "He that lives upon hope will die

fasting" (Franklin, 1758/2023, p. 190) through his relationship with Gatsby and his ultimate

disillusionment with the American Dream. Nick is the moral conscience of the film. He is honest and

trustworthy, open-minded and nonjudgemental. Nick is loyal and comes to understand Gatsby as a

flawed individual but continues to stay by his side until the bitter end. He is optimistic, although he does

get dragged down by the likes of Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom. Nick initially admires Gatsby’s relentless

optimism and sees him as a symbol of possibility. However, as the story unfolds, Nick’s hope for Gatsby’s

dream, idealistic view of the world, and meaningful human connections crumble under the weight of

reality. Nick is captivated by Gatsby's vision of rekindling his romance with Daisy, seeing it as a

testament to the power of dreams. However, he recognizes the futility of Gatsby's pursuit, likening it to

chasing the "green light" at the end of Daisy's dock, a symbol of an ideal perpetually out of reach.

Reflecting on Gatsby’s aspirations, Nick remarks, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future

that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run

faster, stretch out our arms farther” (Luhrmann, 2013). This sentiment envelops the tragedy of living on

hope alone: it sustains dreams but leaves reality unfulfilled. Nick’s disillusionment extends beyond

Gatsby to the broader society of East Egg. Witnessing the selfishness and moral decay of Daisy, Tom, and

their peers, Nick’s faith in the American Dream erodes. Despite his initial belief in the possibility of

meaningful relationships, he concludes that hope alone is insufficient. By the end of the film, Nick
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Franklin’s Maxims vs. The Great Gatsby

remarks on Gatsby’s hopeful nature, stating, “He was the single most hopeful person I’ve ever met. And

am ever likely to meet again” (Luhrmann, 2013). Nick's journey reveals the danger of relying solely on

hope without tangible action or acknowledgment of reality. Like Gatsby's, his idealism ultimately leaves

him disillusioned and empty, a heart-rending reminder of the maxim’s wisdom. His journey is a

cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of relying solely on hope to achieve fulfillment.

In the film The Great Gatsby, the characters of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway

vividly personify the timeless truths found in Franklin’s “The Way to Wealth”. Gatsby’s extravagant

efforts to win Daisy embody the futility of “Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them,” as his wealth

and grandiose lifestyle benefit others at his own expense. Daisy’s refusal to confront reality stresses the

consequences of ignoring reason, as Franklin's maxim, "If you will not hear reason, she'll surely rap your

knuckles", foretells the tragic fallout of her actions. Finally, Nick's reliance on hope reflects the dangers

warned by "He that lives upon hope will die fasting," as his idealism leads to disillusionment and

emptiness. Through these characters, The Great Gatsby serves as a poignant exploration of the

imprudence, futility, and consequences of human ambition and denial, affirming the enduring relevance

of Franklin’s wisdom.
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References

Franklin, B. (2023). The way to wealth. In R.S. Levine, G. Avilez, M.A. Elliott, S.M. Gustafson, A.

Hungerford, & L. Siraganian (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature (Shorter 10th

ed., Vol. 1. pp. 188–194). Norton. (Original work published 1758)

Luhrmann, B. (Director). (2013). The Great Gatsby [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures, presents.