In this essay will be reflected on the social classes in America in the 1920s. In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerd offers up commentary on social stratification.
In his novel, he creates a difference in socialclasses; old money, new money and no money. He does this by including characters from different socioeconomic status, giving them a certain role in the story. The Narrator of the story is Nick Carraway. The first clear evidence of social stratifitcations is the dividsion of Long Island into “West Egg” and “East Egg” (page 3). People living in West Egg are rich and recently gained their money. Most of them climed up the social ladder by working hard. Where as the people from East Egg are born rich. They do not work because of their many social connections and inherited wealth.
Tom and Jordan, who were born wealty, hold themselves above all other because they represent the elite of Long Island. Their families have had money for generation, therefore East Egg is related to “old money”. This in contrast to Jay Gatsby. The American Dream is portrayed in his character; he changed his life as he goes from nothing to being very rich. However, how Gatsby did this is not completely made clear.
Gatsby spends his money throwing parties, only to impress Daisy. Daisy: He invites people from different classes, old and new money. Remarkeble is then, nobody from old money feels the inclination to introduce themselves to the host, feeling superior to Gatsby because he is new money and not worth their time.
