Old Money, New Money, & Everybody Else

Throughout “The Great Gatsby”, author F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the imagery and characteristics of social class and wealth to establish the themes of American life in the Roaring Twenties. The story is set in extravagant and upbeat New York, primarily in two wealthy neighboring districts, West Egg and East Egg, which are similarly home to many rich and successful people, who have come across their fortunes in sharply different ways. The residents of West Egg and East Egg represent the people of New Money, and Old Money, respectively.

            Those labeled as “New Money”, are those who have come to power by pulling themselves up into it. Either through hard work and dedication to their work, or by sheer luck of business and fortune, the riches they've earned were done so by themselves. Nick is a member of the New Money, and is depicted as a go-getting, determined salesman. The people called “Old Money” however are those whose money was passed to them through their familial or society related ties. Thus, they are often seen as older fashioned or overly judgmental onto others of lower class, despite they themselves may having done little work to obtain their position. The character Tom represents this group, as he is described as an arrogant racist. Despite their differences, the two groups are equally shown in the spotlight of wealth and success.

            However, the novel also makes a point to focus on the normal members of society as well, though it emphasizes the differences between classes. The way the rich are lavishly depicted makes those with an ordinary living to appear lacking and miserable. This is shown to further deal with the relationship between the rich and the poor, and how those with power use it over those who don’t.