F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a novel that explores the complex relationships between the wealthy elite of the Jazz Age. The story is set in the wealthy enclave of East Egg, where the excesses and moral decay of the time are on full display. Two of the most important characters in the novel are Gatsby and Nick, who form a bond that is based on mutual respect and a shared understanding of the world around them. In this essay, I will explore the relationship between Gatsby and Nick, and the significance of the East Egg setting in the story. Gatsby and Nick come from very different backgrounds, but they share a sense of disillusionment with the world around them. Gatsby is a self-made man who has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the wealthiest men in America. Nick, on the other hand, comes from a more privileged background, but he is disillusioned with the moral decay and excess of the wealthy elite. As Nick says, "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (Fitzgerald 35). Despite their differences, the two men form a bond that is based on mutual respect and a shared understanding of the world around them. …show more content…
The parties and social events that take place in this setting are often used to highlight the decadence and moral decay of the time, as well as the social inequalities that existed between the rich and poor. Gatsby, who is often seen as an outsider in this world, is both fascinated and repelled by the excesses of the wealthy elite, while Nick is more ambivalent, struggling to reconcile his own values with the values of the society he finds himself in. As Nick observes, "I was a little shocked at the elaborateness of the lie" (Fitzgerald 66).