Greed and the pursuit of wealth are major themes. Characters are often driven by the allure of great riches.
This collection of stories often showcases Fitzgerald's unique take on wealth, excess, and the human condition. For example, in 'The Diamond as Big as the Ritz', the idea of a diamond of such an enormous size is used to explore themes of greed and the corrupting influence of extreme wealth. It also shows how the pursuit of such wealth can lead to moral decay.
The themes include wealth and its consequences. In the story, the enormous diamond symbolizes vast wealth. This wealth brings secrecy as the family doesn't want others to know about it. Secrecy then leads to a sense of alienation from the rest of society. And finally, there's a theme of the power that wealth can hold over people. It makes the family act in ways that are not always ethical just to keep their diamond and their status.
There is also Braddock Washington, who is part of the family that has the diamond as big as the Ritz. He has to deal with the burden of protecting the family's secret wealth. His family's actions are often driven by their desire to keep the diamond a secret and maintain their luxurious lifestyle.
One of the main characters is John T. Unger. He is the protagonist who gets invited to the strange place where the diamond is. Then there's the family that owns the diamond. The patriarch of the family is a significant character as he is in charge of protecting the family's great secret about the diamond.
The story is a satirical take on wealth and excess. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the idea of a diamond as big as a hotel to show extreme opulence. It also explores themes of secrecy and the corrupting influence of money.
One of the main themes could be crime and its consequences. In many stories of this kind, there are often elements of illegal activities and how characters deal with the fallout.
One of the main themes could be the exploration of female identity. The stories might show different aspects of how women are perceived and how they perceive themselves in society.
The main themes could include family, adventure, and the magic of the ordinary. In many of the stories, family relationships are explored, showing how characters interact within their family units. Adventure is also a key theme as the characters often find themselves in unexpected situations. The magic of the ordinary is about finding something special in everyday life, like the big front yard which might hold countless memories and small wonders.
Vanity is a main theme. Mathilde is vain and wants to appear wealthy at the ball, so she borrows the necklace. Another theme is the cost of pride. Her pride won't let her admit to losing the necklace, leading to years of hardship.
Love might be a common theme. In many short stories, love in various forms such as romantic love, family love or love between friends can be explored. It can drive the characters' actions and decisions.