Ladder In The Great Gatsby

Climbing the Gold-Topped Ladder

Of all the many great things mankind has produced, socioeconomic divisions are definitely not one of them. They allow a simple number, the number in a bank account, to create a stark contrast between otherwise similar people. They allow a number to hold back inspiration and creativity. They allow a number to give advantages and privileges to the most careless. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, he begins by dedicating three individual chapters to three different social classes present in 1920’s America: the working poor, new money, and old money. All three are well-defined by particular characteristics, which creates a definite hierarchy. The old money in particular can be viewed as authoritarian

Through setting and motif, Fitzgerald addresses the old money’s inherent power over the working poor and new money.

The novel’s use of setting to contrast between East Egg, West Egg, and the Valley of Ashes begins to explore the superiority of certain social classes. East Egg is where the most wealthy and aristocratic members of the nearby area live. It contains many “white palaces” (10) that are quite “fashionable” (10). This description paints an image of purity and untouched standards of wealth that are translated into the book’s time period. Due to the pristinity of the village, the homes “[glitter] along the water,” (10) further supporting the idyllic qualities East Egg appears to have. West Egg, on the contrary, is home to people of near equal affluence, but also of less social establishment. It is described by the narrator as “less fashionable,” (9) and “not [a] perfect oval” (9). Because of that description, it is hinted toward readers that things in West Egg are not as luxurious and well-kept as East Egg, nor is it the most perfect place to live when compared to its counterpart. The two locations have

Right from the beginning, Fitzgerald establishes that Daisy and Jordan are “dressed in white” (12) and have enjoyed a “beautiful white girlhood [...] together” (24). White archetypally represents purity, but in this case it stands for the old money’s prosperity. Both characters hail from families rooted in money and lavished in the fruits of wealth as children. Gatsby and Nick also dress in white, but for different reasons. Nick “dresse[s] up in white flannels” (46) before heading to Gatsby’s party, and Gatsby wears a “white flannel suit” (89) when he meets up with Daisy. Both of them wear white to galvanize those of the highest class and give an impression of financial abundance. Moreover, a “white-washed [...] fence” (28) separates the Valley of Ashes from surrounding areas. This fence serves as a figurative and literal border that keeps the poor from tarnishing the copiousness found in East and West Egg. Nick also mentions a “great flock of white sheep” (32) when visiting Fifth Avenue. Fifth Avenue is characterized by its lavish designer stores and affinity for the rich. In this case, the white sheep are affluent people shopping, yet again demonstrating the color’s representation of old money. The character Jordan also “powder[s]” (122) her fingers “white over