Essay On New Money In The Great Gatsby

Economic crisis and the growing gap between the wealthy and the remaining “99%” is a massive controversial topic in today’s world. The divide between the wealthy and the poor only continues to grow. Instead of being redistributed, money is passed along families, staying for generations. This leads to divide even within the wealthy, between the new and old money. Though both have wealth, old money is often seen as more respectable and comes from inheritance, while new money is often earned or stolen. This theme appears in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Both the fact that Gatsby earned his money, and the fact he is considered new money play a big role in how he is perceived and how he acts in the book. Daisy on the other hand was born into her money, which impacts how she leads her life and her relationship with Gatsby. Over

Over the course of the entire life she has always been the benefactor of her family’s wealth and has never had to work for anything. She expects everyone to care for her and say,“Listen, Nick; let me tell you what I said when she was born. Would you like to hear?”(16). Daisy assumes that Nick would be interested in what she has to say, simply because she is so used to people serving her. When Daisy discovers that her new husband had an affair and feels uneasy about her future, she moves back to Chicago because “Daisy was popular in Chicago...They moved with a fast crowd, all of them young and rich and wild, but she came out with an absolutely perfect reputation”(77). Daisy loves attention and having people who will listen and do her bidding. She expects Nick, who is of a lower class, to be genuinely interested in everything she says. Another effect of Daisy’s upbringing lead to her being arrogant expecting her wishes to be immediately granted. When Daisy feels it is too hot in the Plaza Hotel, she demands ““Open another window,” commanded Daisy, without turning