The Colossal Difference Within Long Island For centuries, money has been an ever-prominent force in the decisions and actions of humans. In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald illuminates the powerful effect of money in creating and changing people in the American society of the 1920’s. Long Island, split into two sections, the East egg, representing old aristocracy, and the West Egg of the newly rich, Fitzgerald depicts the constant struggle between social hierarchies to reach the ideal American dream. He represents the changing social frame between “old” and “new” money, their symbolic differences, and the morals of the citizens inhabiting each egg. The setting and location of one's house can convey a great deal about a person. …show more content…
Both characters true colors are portrayed when Tom and Daisy flee, leaving the tragedy in order not to deal with it. Gatsby’s pure qualities such as love and loyalty lead to his death, whereas the Buchanan’s qualities of selfishness and arrogant inconsiderate disposition, allow them to withdraw themselves from the situation. Looking directly at the characters proves to reveal just as much as the description of their environment, and behaviors. Fitzgerald provides yet another scope into the classes that Gatsby and the Buchannan’s represent. We are provided with the description of Tom as with a “rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward” (Fitzgerald 6). Although Nick came from a well to do family, they were not at all flamboyant and ostentatious. One thing his father taught Nick was that “reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope" (Fitzgerald 7), and essentially not to judge others. Upon arriving in the East and visiting Daisy, he is introduced to a world of wealth. It was a society that was constantly looking for more money. Another value his father had taught him was to be honest and not to lie. Nick’s closed, rule-bounded view of life comes to a halt at his first visit to the Buchanan’s, where he learns about Tom’s mistress. Nick is befuddled with the juxtaposition of the way he was brought up to the actions of the people in the