The importance of the East and West conflict in The Great Gatsby is a central theme found throughout the novel, both on a literal and figurative level; the geography of the islands differs along with the personalities and experiences of the inhabitants. Fitzgerald describes West Egg as “less fashionable” (5) and “fashionable East Egg” (5) across the bay; the homes on West Egg are either imitations or small while the homes on East Egg are white and sparkly along the water. These physical differences play into the people who live on the islands and connect the ideas to the geography of America. New money was found in the western part of the US while old money can still be found in the eastern states. Tom and Daisy live on East Egg and Tom dresses …show more content…
sexy ... alluring, dangerous, mysterious … his victims become more like him” (Foster 15). The Buchanans display these aspects of this archetype as Daisy describes Tom as a “‘... hulking physical specimen’” (Fitzgerald 12); this draws on the appearance of the figurative vampire as Foster defines one. In search of the past, Daisy pursues a relationship with Gatsby, but she only draws on the benefits for herself leaving him literally lifeless in the end. Weather is also a key feature of The Great Gatsby, particularly rain and the mud created; the significance of rain is most evident in the tea meeting between Daisy and Gatsby at Nick’s house. “The day agreed upon was pouring rain” (Fitzgerald 83), and the servants struggled with the lawn and set up; then “the rain cooled...to a damp mist” (Fitzgerald 84) just before the meeting time. Once Nick leaves them alone inside, “...it was pouring” (Fitzgerald 88) again which leads the reader to connect confusion and mystery as Foster states rain can create through atmosphere (Foster 75). However, after Daisy and Gatsby spend some time together, the weather clears again causing the reader to believe the situation cleared and their relationship can progress. Foster states “ violence is [an]...intimate and personal act but also has cultural and social implications;” (Foster 87) one of the strongest pieces of evidence confirming this in The Great Gatsby occurs at Tom and Myrtle’s Party. At the end of the party “Tom...broke her nose;” (Fitzgerald 37) while this appears simple and obsolete, Tom asserts his power over women in general and lack of concern for others