Socioeconomic Status And Power In The Great Gatsby Essay

The impact of socioeconomic status can be examined through a myriad of lenses. F. Scott Fitzgerald aims to show the relationship between socioeconomic status and power. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Tom’s character shows that socioeconomic status is equivalent to power within the novel. Tom puts great pride and emphasis on his socioeconomic status and wealth. Almost immediately after seeing Nick, Tom says, “If it’s light enough after dinner, I want to take you down to the stables” (Fitzgerald 15). Tom almost immediately feels the need to usher Nick towards his stables, which is a sign of his own personal wealth. Tom’s desire to display his materialistic belongings as a show of his superiority is evident very clearly through this line. Though it’s essentially an offhand comment, Fitzgerald uses this remark to establish Tom’s character. Tom employs his wealth to demonstrate his higher standing on the social ladder. Tom spends much of the evening trying to flaunt his own success, whether it be academic, physical, or monetary. However, Tom resorts to his wealth, of which he is more successful than Nick. In wanting to show Nick his

While talking about her relationship with her husband, Myrtle says, “The only crazy I was when I married [Wilson]” (Fitzgerald 35). Though Myrtle is talking about her husband, Wilson, her comment also reveals an important dynamic of the relationship between Tom and Myrtle. Myrtle reveals that she regrets marrying her husband because he had little money. This regret shows itself through the relationship between Tom and Myrtle. Tom, a wealthier man, holds a greater status and power than Wilson, a poorer man. The relationship between Myrtle and Tom is defined by this. Fitzgerald uses this relationship purposefully to emphasize how Tom’s relationships revolve around the power he gains from his socioeconomic