The Economic Boom In The 1920s

In the early 1900s, an industrial boom leads the post-war generation of the roaring ‘20s. The age-old expression that is being parroted by politicians and industrialists; “A rising tide lifts all boats,” applies to the economic boom that is happening to this world. The people that profit are the people that invest in stocks and sell bonds. But the people that live like royalty are the people that own the speakeasies and all the shadier businesses on the side. Nevertheless, there are those of whom the economic boom does not affect so much; the wealthy, generations-old, upper-class families. When differentiating between old money and new money, it is very important to understand that the old money lot does not spend its wealth glamorously or

A good example of old money is the Buchanan couple, Tom and Daisy. Tom, with his “...string of Polo ponies from Lake Forest.” (8), and his wife, Daisy, with her dislike for grand parties. Tom, not shy to spend his money, bought “...a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.” (82) for his wife, Daisy, who has a voice that is “...full of money.” (128), the likes of which is rarely found with ‘new money’ people. Nick is aware that this is how the ‘old money’ lot spend their money. Being the only middle-class man and a distant cousin to a woman, who is born wealthy and has married into wealth, Nick considers himself “...well-rounded man.” (6). For all the Buchanan’s wealth and despite being “...a careless people.” (pg.191), they are a typical, wealthy, upper-class couple. For the Buchanans, the fortune of being born to wealth provides space for arrogance that Nick views with carefully concealed contempt. So much so that when he rents his “...eyesore...for eighty dollars a month.” (7) he consoles himself, derisively,with the fact that he is “...within the consoling proximity of millionaires.”