Social Status In The Great Gatsby

Affairs, money and love are all a part of the drama created because of the importance of social status in The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald displays the modernist characteristic of the social breakdown of social class and status. Many characters in the novel focus a lot of their lives and decisions on wealth and social status, something that was very common during the 1920’s time period in which the story takes place. The social breakdown of social status in society causes many problems for the main characters throughout the story. One major dilemma caused by the social breakdown of social class in The Great Gatsby is the affairs going on in the marriage of Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Both spouses find themselves having an affair with another person. It is obvious that Daisy and Tom do not have a happy marriage. Tom’s mistress’ sister Catherine even says “Neither of them can stand the person they married”. Tom only stays married to Daisy because she comes from a wealthy family and his mistress is poor. In the end the affairs cause the death of both of the people Tom and Daisy were having affairs with.

Gatsby’s wealth can be seen through his expensive cars, extraordinary mansion and fancy parties. But what no one knows is that Jay actually did not come from a wealthy family, that he was actually poor growing up. Daisy’s wife Tom begins to question later in the story where Gatsby gets his wealth from. Mr. Gatsby became rich through being involved in gangs and he sold alcohol, which during this time was illegal. Jay knew that Daisy came from a wealthy family, so he went against the law to gain money so he would be good enough for