Wealth And Social Status In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing, The Great Gatsby, is known for the sight it gives into the themes of wealth and social status. Fitzgerald uses the distinct division of the East and West Eggs, the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy, and Tom and Myrtle's relationship to demonstrate the differences in social class. F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates the division and difference of social class through his verbose descriptions of relationships and opinionated ideals. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses a distinct division between the East and West Eggs to demonstrate the differences in social class. In the story, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald says, “I lived at West Egg, the - well, the less fashionable of the two” (Fitzgerald 5). Nick Carraway says this,

Creating Gatsby as a character on a journey, one who climbed the social ladder. He started as a poor military man who had fallen in love with the wealthy Daisy. Gatsby and Daisy wanted to be together, but Gatsby left again; while Daisy married a rich man. Fitzgerald says, “She vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby - nothing.” (Fitzgerald 149). While Daisy loves Gatsby, she would not bring herself to marry a man; she thinks to be below herself, walking away and leaving Gatsby alone. When he completes his social ascension, Gatsby meets Daisy again. In his home, he shows Daisy all the extraordinary, expensive items he possesses, hoping she will see his wealth (Hayes 2020). Only then, after seeing his newfound affluence, is when Daisy honestly considers rejoining

Myrtle dreams of becoming rich with a rich man, who she believes to be Tom. While Tom only sees Myrtle as fulfilling his need for an affair. Fitzgerald writes, “I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe” (Fitzgerald 38). Myrtle refers to her husband, George Wilson. George owns a car repair garage in the Valley of Ashes. The Valley of Ashes is the poorest of the surrounding areas. At the time, Myrtle believes that she and Tom will marry and be rich. While having this thought, Myrtle sees George below herself and as someone she would not consider. Counter to Tom, who does not see Myrtle in the same light. Tom envisions Myrtle as something of value, an object: only of use to satisfy himself. Tom sees Myrtle as an asset in reinforcing his image, walking through public hand-in-hand with Myrtle, showing that he is strong enough to provide for and maintain two women (Hayes 2020). Depicting that Myrtle has no emotional significance in the eyes of Tom but as only an object, a pawn. Tom does not see Myrtle as anything because he sees himself as a strong and wealthy individual; who does not see past his own