Social Class In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby social class division illustrates the distinct differences between the various economic social groups. Fitzgerald's review of these groups shows how people from these various social classes have multiple perspectives on life and how their behavior is a reflection of their financial standing. Instead of elevating one group over another, he emphasizes their shared characteristics and distinctive depictions. The way that both the haves and the have-nots handle authority and money is criticized in the book. His main point is that, despite differences in social and economic standing, individuals are mostly the same but can be clouded by their drive for money.
In The Great Gatsby, the separation of the old and

Tom is the best example in the book. His levity, careless behavior, and lack of empathy for others showcases their superciliousness. New money characters, like Gatsby, worked their way up from the bottom and have achieved their wealth through illegal ways. They use their wealth as a means of displaying their power and fitting into society. “‘My house looks well, doesn’t it?’ he demanded. ‘See how the whole front of it catches the light.’” (Pg 96) Gatsby is showing his house to Daisy and Tom and he needs them to like it so he demands that they complement it. The novel portrays the similarities and differences between these groups, and while the new money characters are less socially integrated into the well put together associations made by the old money characters, they still share many of the same behaviors and attitudes as the old money characters.
Fitzgerald uses a variety of symbols to showcase the difference between the haves and the have-nots. The setting of West Egg, where Gatsby and other new money characters live, is not as established as East Egg, where Tom and Daisy live. The cars that the characters drive, like
Gatsby’s yellow car, represent their wealth and status. Most of this stuff they were buying

Even though he has all this his feelings are infantesamle because he doesn't have daisy. The clothes they wear, the parties they attend, the language they use, and lots more showcase their social and economic status.
The book also shows the challenges of climbing the social ladder. Gatsby is a great example. He works hard to build his wealth and power. “His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people, in his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all.” (Pg 105) He tells us of his poorness, humble beginnings, and how his focus had to be extremely punctilious to climb this social ladder all the way to the top. Even though he did all that work he still just felt inferior to the old money characters. This inferiority leads to his tragic end. Myrtle also suffers the same fate. Myrtle, who is married to a working-class man, sees Tom as a way to improve her social status. This is the reason she cheats on her husband. However, this pursuit of the American Dream only leads to her demise. Fitzgerald’s message here is that the pursuit of social status and wealth does not bring true happiness and fulfillment.
The Great Gatsby portrays a clear separation between the different social and