Immorality of the Wealthy

A common theme in Fitzgerald’s work is that extreme wealth often leads to immoral behavior. In the case of the Washingtons, this effect is compounded by their near complete isolation from the rest of the world. Percy, Kismine, and Jasmine were brought up to believe they are better than all others by virtue of their fortune, and they were sheltered from anyone who might challenge this notion.

Imprisoning or killing visitors who might divulge their secrets has become a routine business tactic for Braddock Washington. Kismine finds this mildly upsetting, but her own distorted moral views are revealed when John asks her when her father has summer visitors murdered: “In August usually—or early in September. It’s only natural for us to get all the pleasure out of them that we can first.” Braddock Washington shares this belief...