Thursday, April 17, 2014

What different types of groups were in the book The Great Gatsby?

I think you could classify people according to wealth
because it seems to be such a big theme in the book.


1. THE
BORN RICH: Although Tom and Daisy are filthy rich, it feels like they don't deserve it
because they didn't work for it. It is as if now they live off the interest of someone
else's work in the past. Often we call this old money. This was
certainly noted because they lived in East Egg.


2. THE
NEWLY or ILLEGALLY RICH: Gatsby fits in this category with many of his associates like
Wolfsheim. These are those who scam others and disobey the law or take advantage of the
current situation to get what they want... no matter the cost, even if it means their
very own souls.


3. THE WANT TO BE RICH: Even though we like
Nick for his down-to-earth character, he certainly had hoped to join the group of
Easterners who were wealthy. I think it is why he went into stocks and bonds. Jordan
Baker fits into this group as she ran in the circles socially with the rich but we never
see what she really earns. Even old Mr. Gatz seems taken with the idea of wealth, yet he
would never know how to acquire it himself.

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