Slow Down and Appreciate Life

Although money can bring you happiness, the two are not synonymous. The Diamond as Big as the Ritz shows how even with a mountain made of diamond, the Washingtons can never be truly happy because they are always so isolated and concerned over preserving their wealth. Despite the fact that they had so much money, were they "worth anything at all?" (Fitzgerald 87). Fitzgerald is trying to show how the Washingtons were built up on the outside, but had essentially a hollow center. They had such a grand showcase of wealth which makes them look almost perfect. However, as the story progresses it becomes clear how shallow and self-centered this family is. They hold no core values which Fitzgerald exposes through the course of the story.

Fitzgerald demonstrates that not only do the Washingtons use corrupt means to gain wealth, but also how they are then controlled by this corruption. They feel justified to hold aviators as prisoners and kill all their guests just to hoard all their wealth. In the end, their greed and money is what asks God for a bribe. They become so stuck in this world of money that it begins take control of their actions. The daughters, Jasmine and Kismine, show how the family has never really left this ideal isolated area as the two girls show their innocence in asking about washing clothes. Fitzgerald shows the evil nature of greed and also how money shouldn't be the center of everyone's life.

I really enjoyed reading this short story and seeing all the similarities between this and The Great Gatsby.