The Role Of Wealth In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts two characters, Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, who are both fabulously wealthy but have contrasting personalities. The novel takes place during the 1920’s, a time of opulence and excess. However, within this group comprised of people of wealth, there are several different echelons. On Long Island there is a vast body of water that acts as a separation between the different levels of the rich, West Egg which is steeped in old money and extreme wealth and East Egg which is home to those with newly acquired wealth. Tom and Gatsby possess both wealth and privilege. However, they have gained their wealth through different means, present their wealth to the world differently and use their wealth for different purposes. In the novel The Great Gatsby, we are presented with two very wealthy characters, Tom Buchanan and Gatsby, who have different incentives for accumulating their wealth. The opulence of Tom’s mansion is a reflection of the value he places on personal wealth and how he presents his wealth. Tom’s house is described to be a “cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay” (Fitzgerald 6). Outside of this extravagant house Tom is depicted to be in “riding clothes…standing with his

Scott Fitzgerald’s description of Tom’s house, Gatsby’s house is portrayed to be less dazzling and grand. Gatsby’s house is presented as a “factual imitation” which gives the reader a sense that the house is counterfeit and lacks originality (Fitzgerald 5). Directly contrasting to Tom’s prominent stance, Gatsby is suggested to be much less dominant as he is not included in the description of his house. Similarly, the people who attend Gatsby’s extravagant parties also do not know who their host is. They know his name and spend the night making conjectures as to how Gatsby became so wealthy. This characterization continues throughout the text as Gatsby is portrayed as an anxious, insecure