This just proves how thoughts of class in a society significantly affects the decision of marriage in both novels. Those who are rich are more concerned with playing it safe and sticking with their own people. They often care too much about their image and it is this that results in them not being satisfied or sustained. Daisy and Lady Catherine de Bourgh, both married into their own old upper class and did not take the chance to go out of the cultural norms, resulting in them both living a boring, unsatisfied life. Money mattered, not his character. Another time class shows up is when the upper-class displays their superiority to the lower-class. In The Great Gatsby, Tom and Daisy, a wealthy couple from East Egg-the older money in society- often feel like they are better than West Egg- the lower-class people- and don’t like socializing much in their area. …show more content…
The narrator at one point in the novel describes Daisy as a person “… appalled by West Egg, this unprecedented "place" that Broadway had begotten upon a Long Island fishing village—appalled… by the too obtrusive fate that herded its inhabitants along a short-cut from nothing to nothing.” (Fitzgerald, 107).
According to the narrator, Daisy thinks West Egg is the knock off brand of East Egg. This illustrates Daisy’s character of being condescending towards West Egg, disliking the fact that people in West Egg were not born into wealth like she was and had to work to get the things she had. East Egg’s resentment and dislike of West Egg shows that society is divided. Similarly, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a rich person who talks down to the poor; trying to boss them around and belittle them. She does this when she criticizes Elizabeth, a young middle class women, for her upbringing. She acts really snobby when she says, “No
governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.” (Austen, 171) This is significant because the rich believe that because they make more money or come from inherited wealth, they are better than others and can therefore try to control those who have less and make fools of them; outsmart them and enslave them. The upper class feel that money defines a person, but it is in fact character and personality that make the person. Class is also portrayed when the upper-class makes fun of the lower class. This happens when Gatsby, a major character of new money in The Great Gatsby, accepts a non-invitation to a party. He doesn’t know that the rich are being impolite and making rude jokes when “inviting’ him to the party. After Gatsby goes to get ready, Tom, a man of old money says, “My God, I believe the man’s coming,” said Tom. “Doesn’t he know she [the East Egg host of the party] doesn’t want him?... She has a big dinner party and he won’t know a soul there.” (Fitzgerald, 103) Gatsby isn’t the only one made fun by society’s elite. Elizabeth Bennet from P&P is given snickers and commented on by the rich when she enters
Class identity and social structure was a big thing in the Roaring 20 's. In the Great Gatsby, Long Island was divided into two to three social classes. There is East and West Egg, and then The Valley of Ashes. The Valley of Ashes were where poor people worked, and where Myrtle, a mistress of Tom Buchanan resides. East and West Egg were where old and new money people are. East Egg residents just made tons of money, but still are looked down upon by West Egg residents. West Egg residents had that money for generations. If West Egg residents want to start a new generation with some other rich partner though, where do they stand? Why are the West Egg residents so looked down upon as well by East Egg?
Tom having an affair with a middle class woman was a huge class difference. Also Daisy will not leave Tom to be with Gatsby because even though Gatsby has money he is not seen as high class. Gatsby lives in West Egg not East egg so he is not as classy as Tom and Daisy. Daisy doesn’t care that Gatsby had changed from the poor man she once new because she thinks that Tom’s old money is better than Gatsby’s new money. The rich seem to be unified by their money. There are also several class differences. There are the characters like Daisy, Tom, and Jordan who were born into wealth. Their families have had money for many generations, hence they are old money. The novel portrays this because people of old money do not have to work, they just spend their time fascinating their selves. They impose a distinction on Gatsby where his life is not based on how much money he has, but where his money came from and when it was received. In Daisy, Tom, and Jordan’s eyes they think he can’t possibly have the same sensibility, taste, and refinement they have. Gatsby may have money now but in their eye he once was poor so he can’t possibly be anything like them. They believe the people with new money cannot be like the ones with old
So much through chapter 1 we are getting the idea of Daisy being well, stupid. But when alone with nick she explains to him she is sophisticated but cynical, proving to us to think she is much smarter than Tom. She does also show criticism on women’s status when talking about her baby hoping it’s a girl “I hope she’ll be a fool – that’ the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” This portrays the idea of women in the 1920s. But we do as well see that Daisy is very complex as she is in a secret society of which is she and Tom.
Much like in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, society treats views and treats people with money differently than those without it. For example, Tom and Daisy get away with the death of Tom’s mistress because of their wealth “His family was enormously wealthy – even in collage his freedom with money was a matter for reproach” (Fitzgerald,23). Further the reason that Daisy had not married Gatsby all those years ago was because he was poor, it was not until he had an enormous house and lots of money “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me” (Fitzgerald ,367). It was not until Gatsby became wealthy did Daisy want to marry him “After she was free, they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house” (Fitzgerald, 311). Moreover, Gatsby’s own personal success was based on how Daisy perceived his house “He hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well loved eyes.” (Fitzgerald, 260). Critic Karielle Stephanie Gam agrees with this view of success “His wealth is never cloaked; from the mansion, to the weekly parties, to the countless dress shirts and expensive cars, it is evident that Gatsby is rich as sin and is initially, though his inclusion in the nouveau riche, the epitome of the American dream.” (Karielle Stephanie
The East and West Egg are two opposite parts of Long Island. The East Egg is where people of old money reside, like Daisy and Tom, who have inherited the riches of the aristocracy. However, the West Egg is the home of the nouveau riche or new money. It is where Gatsby and Nick reside, who have accumulated great wealth on their own. Fitzgerald contrasts these two places and the characters from each Egg to highlight the cultural clash in the 1920’s between old and new money and the contrasting theme of corruption and morality.
Many forms of literature portray conflicting or contrasting areas in which each place has a significant impact on the story. These opposing forces add to the overall theme, symbolism and meaning of the story. In the ‘Great Gatsby’, by F. Scott Fitzgerald these areas are the ‘East Egg’ and the ‘West Egg’. To illustrate the East Egg represents the former or classic establishment. It consists of wealthy families who have handed down money from generation to generation. However the West egg includes money or fortunes that recently have been acquired. The West Egg sets the standard of the American Dream theme; working hard to become successful. Notably, the Great Gatsby reveals characters that come from both areas and impact the story and other locations.
Tom is richer than Gatsby, and has a far lesser chance of losing his money; because of the simple fact that he did not need to participate in anything illegal to gain his wealth. In fact Tom did not need to participate in anything to receive his wealth. Gatsby, because he was not born into a wealthy, well-to-do family, is in a lower class, despite being almost as wealthy as Tom is. While Gatsby treats Daisy far better than Tom does, Daisy still favors Tom because it is far easier to live with someone who has a predictable pattern to their actions than someone who is all over the place. All of these coincide with each other to cause Daisy to think that she loves Tom more than she does Gatsby.
The way Daisy Buchanan chooses to live her life fits perfectly with the phrase “rich girls do not marry poor boys.” Since she was young, Daisy had men falling at her feet, willing to do anything she beckoned, she lived a good life. This especially gets better when she meets Jay Gatsby, a young lieutenant in the army. Everything is looking up until she finds out Gatsby is not of the same class as her. Due to this issue Daisy, despite her love, leaves Gatsby for Tom Buchanan. “She only married you because I was poor…” (Fitzgerald 130). Gatsby makes a point to say this to Tom because he believes Daisy married him not necessarily because she loved Tom, but because
He was as poor as could be and only gained any knowledge and hope of a different future from his parents due to a chance meeting with a rich and extravagant man. From him, Gatsby learned the ways of the wealthy and what it takes to be rich, however, he was never truly a member of the upper class. Just before Gatsby’s death, Nick comments that Gatsby is worth more than all of them put together, referring to the upper class. (154). However, Nick is only able to make this comment as Gatsby is not truly a part of the upper class that Daisy belongs to. Despite gaining the wealth, fame, and general appearance of the rich, at heart Gatsby is still the poor man that fell in love with Daisy five years prior. He lives in the past. Gatsby had no shot with Daisy as she needed someone who truly fit the constructs of the upper class, while Gatsby could never fulfill that requirement. Achieving Daisy would have been the epitome of the upper class. Lois Tyson writes in Critical Theory Today, “Possession of Daisy would give Gatsby what he really wants; a permanent sign that he belongs to her socioeconomic class, to the same bright, spotless, airy, carefree world of the very rich the Daisy embodies for him…” (71). If Gatsby had won Daisy’s love, it would have proved that he could assimilate with the wealthy. The failure of Gatsby to do so is a
This is something that is evident particularly on page 66 in the novel when Gatsby tells his story to Nick Carraway, the novel's narrator, and Nick describes Gatsby's phrases as so threadbare they lack credibility. No matter how much money Gatsby makes, he is never going to be good enough for either Daisy or the other characters. Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan are the three main male characters. These men hang out a lot in the novel, even though they are not from the same social class. Tom Buchanan comes from a socially solid old family and is very wealthy.
During the whole story, the rich have a sense of carelessness of money and material goods that are usually unobtainable by most. Prime examples of this carelessness are the huge parties that Gatsby throws; everybody who is anybody would attend: the party guests “[arrive] at twilight . . .” (Fitzgerald 111) and stay until daybreak, and “sometimes they [come] and [go] without having met Gatsby at all, [come] for the party with a simplicity of heart that [is] its own ticket of admission” (45). Gatsby puts enormous amounts of money into these parties, even though he does not enjoy them one bit. He, however, continues to have them because he believes happiness can be bought (101), that the glitz and glitter will ultimately bring Daisy to love him (Swilley). To Gatsby, he must continue to throw these parties. Gatsby is new money and he has to show off his money and prove to the world that he is rich (Karen). In addition to his elaborate parties, he wears extravagant pink suits with gold ties and drives an eye-catching yellow car. All this he does in order to gain Daisy’s attention (Gatsbylvr). In contrast, the opposite is true for Tom. Karen says that Tom is old money and, therefore, does not have to show the world that he has money. Tom does not need Gatsby’s flashiness; his house is arranged to his liking and he seems to be more conventional -- Tom rides horses as opposed to driving a flashy car (Karen).
Society won’t let Gatsby and Daisy be together when they fall in love because Daisy comes from a family of old wealth, while Gatsby is the son of peasants. “For over a year,” as a young man, “he had been beating his way along Lake Superior as a clam digger and a salmon fisher or in any other capacity that brought him food or bed,” (98) before meeting Dan Cody and getting his first taste of real wealth. When Gatsby meets Daisy he sees the same carefree lifestyle of Dan Cody that only the rich can achieve and is soon seduced by it. Daisy comes...
The emergence of this class, it has to do with love. It is all about family life, marriage, family values. Within this consumerist environment, love is conditioned by money; prime force appearance are seducing and deceiving. Daisy is a materialist, she has a specific voice, oxymoron, an expression as realistic romantic, beautiful, full of money. She symbolizes ideal, perfection for Gatsby. All of her charm, beauty, seductions have all to do with money. She has a husky, thrilling voice, she is governed by money, aristocratic values.
Gatsby believes in the aforementioned "American Dream." Thus, Gatsby believes that money alone will allow him to enter the upper class. However, the unspoken truth of the "American Dream" is that class mobility requires money and the culture typical of the upper class. Gatsby becomes wealthy, but his lack of this culture prevents him from fulfilling his goal of social mobility. Writer Andrew B. Trigg discusses Gatsby 's inability to climb the social ladder: "culture provides a barrier to entering the top echelons of the leisure class" (Trigg.) Throughout The Great Gatsby, Gatsby 's lack of taste is evident, which leads to the upper class 's rejection of him. Gatsby repeatedly displays his wealth in excessive ways. Gatsby throws extravagant parties, buys flamboyant clothes, and purchases an opulent car and mansion. Throughout the novel, these displays of wealth are met by criticism from those that Gatsby is trying to impress. Tom Buchanan, Daisy 's husband, and a man of inherited wealth, detests Gatsby. In Chapter seven, Tom frequently criticizes Gatsby for his gaudy displays of wealth. First, Tom criticizes Gatsby 's car: " 'Come on, Daisy, ' said
In the 1900s, there was a post World War I generation of writers who rejected the normal American values called the Lost Generation. The Lost Generation used modernism techniques, such as symbolism and personal experiences. Ernest Hemingway was a part of the Lost Generation, along with F. Scott Fitzgerald. Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises is similar to The Great Gatsby, by Fitzgerald, because both books are based on life experiences and are about carless people in the 1920s.