The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald

"I bought a dozen volumes on banking and credit and investment securities, and they stood on my shelf in red and gold like new money from the mint, promising to unfold the shining secrets that only Midas and Morgan and Mæcenas knew (Fitzgerald, 4)."

Enjoy the recreation by the MUPPETS.

This allusion to Nick's desires to become rich reminds me of today's society. We are honed from a very young age to become productive members of society. To do so, we need the right tools. Just as Nick needed books on investment securities, today, doctors need medical journals and mechanics need a variety of wrenches and pliers. All of these devices are needed to acquire their aspiration: financial stability, yet is it necessary for happiness? Today, we often associate happiness with money and success. As in the case of Midas in mythology, he wanted wealth from the gods. Receiving the golden touch, he turned everything to gold, even his daughter. His greed blinded him when he accidentally killed her. He realized that the splendor of materialism is not all that the world has to offer. We must take a lesson from Midas and Kermit. Although it is comforting to have money in the bank, it is not the epitome of happiness. It should not be the only purpose in our lives because it will provoke a sense of regret and loneliness.