The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Interesting Facts

• The book is a satire on the American Dream and capitalism, showing how wealth and power can distort moral values.
• The story contains an element of fantasy: the diamond, which is the basis of the Washington family's wealth, is so large that it is beyond valuation.
• The protagonist, John T. Unger, faces a moral dilemma when he realizes that the Washington family's wealth is built on exploitation and isolation.
• The Washington family lives in isolation from the outside world to keep their wealth a secret, symbolizing the divide between the rich and the rest of society.
• Fitzgerald uses hyperbole and grotesque to create an image of incredible wealth and its consequences, making the work unique in his oeuvre.