Examples Of Social Class In The Great Gatsby

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Society and Social Class Society categorizes social classes considering factors such as economic statuses, education, acquaintances, and occupations. A large quantity of people believe it to be easy to escalate the social class ladder due to the American dream, yet the The Great Gatsby contradicts this common belief. Society and social class are represented in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, when Gatsby struggles to belong to the higher social class due to an old money, new money barrier. Gatsby’s famous acquaintances, framed high education, his wealth, and his effort didn’t seem to matter to society’s categorization of social class when it was clear that his wealth came from shady bootlegging businesses. Gatsby constantly …show more content…
New money was located in the luxurious East Egg, while new money people were located in the neighboring West Egg. Reasonably, Tom and Daisy lived in East Egg while Gatsby lived in West Egg along with less wealthy Nick. “I lived in West Egg, the-well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them” (Fitzgerald, 5). Even with the location barrier Gatsby built a, “...colossal affair by any standard- it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden,” (Fitzgerald, 5) to impress everyone, specially Daisy.
In conclusion, no matter how hard Gatsby or any of the other characters tried, society set impediments for social class levels to remain in their category. Wealth and social class went hand in hand in Fitzgerald’ novel shaping the characters mentality. These categorizations sorrowfully impacted this novel by driving some of the characters into disastrous endings. Myrtle dies, Mr. Wilson loses it all, and Gatsby is rejected and killed and the rich stay intact. This tragic novel explores the 1920’s location, mentality, wealth, traits, and characterization all to mirror social class
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