Which statement accurately reflects Fitzgerald's contrast between Tom's and George's work?

• A. Tom's wealth benefits society while George's work serves only himself.
• B. Both Tom and George's work benefit society equally.
• C. Tom's wealth serves only himself while George's work benefits society.
• D. Tom's wealth is inconsequential and George's work is celebrated by society.

Answer: (C)

Fitzgerald draws a clear line between wealth used as a tool for self-advancement and ordinary labor that serves others. Tom's money functions as a stand-in for privilege and power; it lets him dominate situations, dodge responsibility, and pursue personal desires without regard for the broader social impact. In this light, wealth is shown as something that benefits the holder and his circle, not society at large.

George Wilson's work, by contrast, represents honest, everyday labor aimed at keeping things moving for the community—his mechanic shop serves people who need transportation and practicality. Even though his life is marked by hardship, his labor has a social value that stands in contrast to Tom's wealth-driven actions.

So the statement that Tom's wealth serves only himself while George's work benefits society captures how Fitzgerald portrays the moral gap between privileged, self-serving wealth and the constructive, communal value of regular work.

The other options conflict with this portrayal: wealth is not presented as benefiting society or as inconsequential, and the idea that both works benefit society equally ignores Fitzgerald’s critique of wealth and privilege.