Examples Of Social Class In The Great Gatsby

The novel The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, takes place in the 1920s in New York City. In the novel, social and economic class are very prevalent, and cause many issues for the characters and their interactions with others. Overall the novel highlights how the character’s social class affects the morals, values, and characteristics of the upper class, through the treatment of others from different classes, the lives the characters live, and the decisions made Within the novel the class of a person impacts their treatment of others. Whether it be through words or actions, there is a very visible class divide not only from the description of the characters but how they interact with one another. It is seen on multiple occasions

It is well known that Gatsby has an abundance of money and no Nick, not so much. The social status of the characters is not kept secret from each other. Chapter four is when Nick initiates the affair between Daisy and Gatsby by bringing them together. Nick invites Daisy over for some tea, without telling her Gatsby would be there. Later Nick tells Gatsby Daisy had agreed and Gatsby starts to panic. He starts on about what day would be right for Nick to host this little tea party. Gatsby then pauses to look outside and states I want to get the grass cut. Nick brushes it off and pushes it over to the side. Gatsby replies to Nick,“ ‘...look here, old sport, you don’t make much money, do you?’ ‘Not very much’ This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently” (82). In this conversation, Gatsby decides to bring up Nick's finances, even though the conversation has nothing to do with money. He makes Nick say that he does not have a lot of money, and in return Gatsby feels empowered and confident. When

The characters in the book live their lives solely based on money, as it appears to be the main priority in their lives,contributing to a lot of their personal faults. Myrtle, for example, is hungry for money, and class is all she cares about. Rather than being in a happy loving relationship and not caring about her significant other's money or economic status, she wants to be handed everything rather than earn it.When Myrtle speaks, she is entitled and ungrateful, all she cares about is money. At this moment in time Myrtle is inside the Manhattan apartment that Tom rents for her, having a conversation with others from the building about how far this affair is going to go. During that conversation, someone said to Myrtle that she had to be a little crazy for George at some point.Myrtle then goes on to explain, “The only crazy thing I did was when I married him. I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in, and never even told me about it, and the man came after it one day when he was out.” (35). Myrtle in this situation acts completely ignorant as she complains that her husband borrowed someone's suit and didn’t tell her. Myrtle said that she was crazy for marrying George because he wasn’t able to afford a decent suit. by saying that she knew she made a mistake by marrying George, solely at this point in the conversation she is saying that her mistake was marrying