Corruption In The Great Gatsby Essay

Throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby a common conflict of the corruption of American society and its means of materialism corrupting the American dream is expressed by F. Scott Fitzgerald. There is constant conflict among the wealthy, well to do class in America. Especially in the setting of Long Island, where resides the East Egg and the West Egg. The East and West Egg respectively represent the split among the upper wealthy class in society. The East Egg is of old money, aristocratic families where as the West Egg is of the "nouveau riche" families whose fortunes were recently acquired. The East Egg has more social influence and respectability than those residing in the West Egg. The East Eggers place great value on tradition, family background,
Daisy and Tom Buchannan represent the East Egg, those who have generations of wealth and respectability. Jay Gatsby however represents the West Egg and the new wealth of American society. Gatsby is essentially a social newcomer whom has made his money through commerce, bootlegging. West Eggers lack the sense of entitlement found among the East Eggers, and they are not "refined" or "polished" in their manners. West Eggers are portrayed in the novel as being over-enthusiastic with his money spending it carelessly on all extravagancies, almost to the point of being gaudy, like all of Gatsby's parties and his pink suit in Chapter 7. It is as if they don’t know what to do with their newly grossed riches and therefore try to copy what they perceive to be the possessions and manners of the pronounced rich of the East Egg. West Eggers envy the respectability of the East Eggers, and the wanted the same for themselves. Gatsby has always wanted to be a part of the wealthy society, and is enticed by East Egg and their luxuriousness. Everything Gatsby has ever wanted was part of the East Egg, including his long dreamed of love,