ipl-logo

Socioeconomic Classes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

1202 Words5 Pages

A person being elevated from the sea rejoices until they find themselves in the crushing pressure of space; as money helps people ascend from one world of problems, it crushes them in the pressure of an entirely new world of expectations. The Great Gatsby tells the story of Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby in 1920s New York and the love triangle between the three, as told by Nick Carraway, shaped by the limitations and expectations of each of their respective economic statuses. The roles of each character within their gender identity, sexuality, and socioeconomic status influence their autonomy. Social expectations and norms based on economic status control most, if not all, of the lives of the characters. It is the reason Gatsby was unable to marry …show more content…

Gatbsy tells Nick about his past, or more accurately, he tells Nick about a past, not necessarily his own. It’s the path Gatbsy created for his new life as a rich man, the sparkling version of his past, meant to raise Nick’s appreciation for Gatbsy. "I am the son of some wealthy people in the midwest—all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford because all my ancestors were educated there for many years. It is a family tradition." (65), says Gatsby. Gatby’s new future required him to have a new past; if he wanted to have any kind of future with Daisy, he couldn’t reveal his real past and status as new money as it would lower him in rank and destabilize his future plans. Gatsby knows what would happen if he were deemed unworthy of Daisy’s presence, as it had happened before when he was leaving for the war. Jordan tells Nick, "Wild rumors were circulating about her—how her mother found her packing her bag one winter night to go to New York and say good-bye to a soldier who was going overseas. She was effectively prevented, but she wasn’t on speaking terms with her family for several weeks". (75) Daisy and Gatsby were kept apart by not only the war that pulled Gatsby away but the expectations that pulled at Daisy, prompting (or leading to?) Gatsby’s need to seem like old money in the present. We can draw from this that Gatsby climbs his way up to the top of the social hierarchy because otherwise he would have no chance at what he really wanted, which was to be with

Show More
Related
144 Words | 1 Pages

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, "The Great Gatsby," the characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan stand as stark contrasts in the social tapestry of the Roaring Twenties. Both men inhabit the glittering world of wealth and excess, yet their origins, motivations, and moral compasses diverge significantly. This essay will delve into the intricate similarities and profound differences between Gatsby and Tom, exploring the thematic nuances that shape their characters. Despite the pervasive negative portrayal of Tom Buchanan throughout the narrative, an intriguing question arises: why does Daisy, caught between the allure of Gatsby's romantic idealism and the stability of Tom's old money security, choose to remain entwined with the latter?

Read More
1374 Words | 6 Pages

Gatsby has spent his whole life trying to prove to Daisy and everyone around him that he is worthy of her. The only way to be on the same social level as her is to turn himself into new money. Since this is not possible, he has to try to convince to others that he truly is old money. To do this, he becomes rich, and lies about his past, but the only way for him to complete this idea is if he is with Daisy. She is the final piece in his American dream.

Read More
1541 Words | 7 Pages

At first, Daisy and Gatsby’s affair is displayed as two lovers who have waited years to reconnect with one another. Nevertheless, it is revealed that their relationship is purely based on what the other represents, not their true qualities. For Gatsby, Daisy represents “green light that signals him into the heart of his ultimate vision” (Bewley), his vision being notoriety and success. It is made obvious from the beginning that the “old money” class of East Egg look down upon the likes of Gatsby due to his unsavory methods of acquiring wealth. They also generally look down upon the "new money” class because of their flashiness and almost adolescent nature of spending their freshly earned dollars.

Read More
406 Words | 2 Pages

Gatsby is aware that Daisy is interested in materialistic goods and believes that by achieving a higher

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

At the beginning of the book we find out that Gatsby is Nick's next door neighbor and Nick wants to learn more about the mysteries of Gatsby. Gatsby lied about his past by saying it was great while he had to bring himself up. Gatsby left for the war and while he was enlisted he and Daisy sent letters of communication. Daisy made it a point to explain “I wish we could just run away. ”even

Read More
1410 Words | 6 Pages

Despite the longing he felt to be around his dearest, when Gatsby was released he began a hurried climb to the top of the social ladder. The societal expectations that hung around Daisy’s neck required Gatsby to be extremely wealthy, as she had come from generations of

Read More
1111 Words | 5 Pages

Even when your life seems to be put together, it can fall apart instantly. In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he takes us through the 1920s when people's social status was separated into the East Egg (new money) and West Egg (old money). People of the time ended up doing anything when it came to keeping their wealth. Gatsby came from nothing, but when he had everything, he could not hold on to it due to greed. Money changes people.

Read More
2240 Words | 9 Pages

The comparison between them further implies Gatsby’s failure to acknowledge that wealth is not the only factor that separates him from Daisy. Mindsets are equally significant in their situation, considering that Daisy

Read More
442 Words | 2 Pages

The Hunt For Upper Class In The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that one's reality for true pleasure is threatened by chasing the thirst for richness and power through Gatsby, Myrtle and Tom in the pursuit for more wealth, love and, royalties. A topic that appeared throughout the great gatsby is that, chasing money and power may stall someone from true happiness. In support of this thesis you can see Gatsby chasing Daisy, as Nick and Gatsby are conversating about it not being a coincidence where Gatsby lives.

Read More
1038 Words | 5 Pages

The American Dream has been a driving force behind countless success stories and a symbol of hope for generations. But what does it truly mean to achieve the American Dream? Is it about wealth and fame, or is it something deeper, rooted in the values of hard work, perseverance, and opportunity? In the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there are multiple events that show classism where characters put others down based on their money status. Fitzgerald exposes the destructive nature of the American Dream by demonstrating how the pursuit of wealth, social status, and the illusion of the perfect life can lead to moral decay, broken relationships, and the disillusionment of the dream, revealing that the pursuit of material

Read More
1248 Words | 5 Pages

The idea that their respective social class influences Gatsby’s role and location in society is prevalent because of their interaction with said family and friends. It is also is shown in their own actions which are parallel to distinct structure and sociological reasoning. Yet we see Gatsby coming from “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people,” (Fitzgerald 134) but because he wanted Daisy so bad he made up his own background of a past wealthy existence which pervaded his life. Gatsby presents a stereotype of personification of class; however, because he “invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent” (Fitzgerald 142) readers feel that Gatsby just lied and cheated to become wealthy and to get what he wanted; Daisy.

Read More
1509 Words | 7 Pages

t was winter holidays, and I made a rare trip to Brisbane City with my family, quicky putting into perspective the social class divide within our community. Turning the city street corners, in my jeans and puffer jacket, I walked past 4-5 homeless people, curled up for warmth. Their demoralising reality is so distant to my own – suburban house, small white dog, air-conditioning to accommodate Queensland’s unpredictable weather. From this city trip, I couldn’t help but notice we are constantly living in a social divide, and now, as critically consuming teenagers, we are becoming aware.

Read More
922 Words | 4 Pages

This passage from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, much like the novel itself, serves as an observation of the dark undercurrents that flow beneath the gleaming surface of wealth. Taking form as a recount of Daisy’s marriage to Tom Buchanan, by Jordan Baker, the passage depicts a distraught Daisy toiling with her emotions after receiving a letter from Jay Gatsby, whom she loves. Daisy’s values are tested, as her marraige to an immeasurable wealthy Tom rapiddly approaches, but a letter from her love lays in her hand. In this passage, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s portrayal of Daisy succumbing to social expectations, leading to her emotional transformation, reveals the harmful nature of a materialistic society.

Read More
1155 Words | 5 Pages

Gatsby reveals his true motivations behind his pursuit of wealth and status to be an obsession with winning Daisy’s love, which exemplifies the American Dream’s illusion as a promise of happiness. Despite the mystery surrounding his wealth, Gatsby reveals to Nick after having befriended him for a while, that he only ever chased after the higher social class to impress Daisy. Gatsby was born into a poor background with “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people” (98) as parents, which made him feel like he had yet to leave his mark on the world and do something meaningful, and so he became a soldier to join the fight in World War I. When Daisy and Gatsby first met he was about to be sent off to Europe, and so to keep in touch afterwards, they sent each other letters. They held onto this hope that they would soon enough be together once again, but eventually they stopped writing to each other because Daisy got married to Tom. This left Gatsby more determined than ever to win her love

Read More
537 Words | 3 Pages

In The Great Gatsby, social status is a significant element in the book as it separates the haves from the have nots. However more importantly, social status portrays the personalities of people belonging to different classes. In the end, you are stuck in the class you are born into, and attempting to change classes only leads to tragedy and heartbreak.     In The Great Gatsby, there are three main social classes portrayed. These are old money, new money, and no money.

Read More

More about Socioeconomic Classes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Open Document