<p>Please read and grade my essay. Feedback is appreciated!</p>
<p>Can success be disastrous?</p>
<p>In modern society, individuals are often encouraged to pursue success and to drive themselves to victories. However, the path to such goals can often be wrought with corruption and opulence. Success can warp an individuals moral compass to a point where success and greed become most important in their lives. This can be noted in several examples from literature which demonstrates this moral degradation.</p>
<pre><code>In F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel, The Great Gatsby the plot follows the lives of individuals living in East Egg, a rich and affluent area. Among its residents is Jay Gatsby, who is a mysterious figure who throws the most lavish parties. As the plot progress, the audience is made aware of Jay Gatsbys history. Born as Jay Gats, a young man falls in love with an unattainable rich young girl. A poor soldier himself, Gats sets out to improve his social standing. However, he chooses to do so by participating in illegal and illicit excursions with shady characters like Meyer Wolfsheim. Gats ignore his honor, tarnishing his conscience with his ruthless desire for money. He is so changed by this journey that he changes his name, becoming the titular Jay Gatsby. Although money is often linked to success, in this case, this success brought Gats only corruption. He ignored his morals and ethics, all to impress a young love. This shows how detrimental success can be to character, twisting the conscience and igniting greed and desire.
Another example can be noted in William Goldings novel, The Lord of Small Flies. In this book, a group of young boys is stranded on an island without adults or a means of escape. For many days, they struggle to adjust to life on the island, beginning by electing Ralph, a charismatic boy, as leader. This upsets Jack, another boy on the island, who desires control and power. As Jack leads the hunters, he slanders Ralph and barbarically murder pigs for meat, all to draw in the group under his leadership. This demonstrates the lengths an individual will go to attain success. Jack throws away his old identity, and instead dons one of savage, ruthless, and wild nature. This yearning for success revealed the darkness in his heart, conveying the moral of the novel; all men are capable of evil.
In conclusion, success can alter an individuals morals and conscience for the worse in their journey for victory. It is our duty to seek success through good and self-growth instead.
</code></pre>