Social Classes In The Great Gatsby

The 1920’s marked a time of great post-war economic growth and F. Scott Fitzgerald captured the frenzy of society during this time by setting up three distinct social classes which are old money, new money, and no money. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald introduces three main characters, each from a different class, Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson. These characters each have many imperfections that they must contend. Wealthy or not, each character wants to appear as the greatest. And so, throughout the novel they each find a way to put on a ‘mask’ to cover up their many flaws. People who have fortunes dating from the 19th century or before and have built up a powerful social connection are considered to be old money.
Ones who don’t come from a wealthy background, but are rich are considered to be new money. Among these people was Gatsby, who was very wealthy man. Although he did have flaws, he made his money doing illegal activities and he was mentally stuck in the past. Gatsby used his money to his advantage in a way so that he could cover up his flaws. Gatsby struck it rich by being a so-called bootlegger. Tom confronted Gatsby of this, “He and Wolfshiem brought up a lot of side-street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter..I picked him for a bootlegger…” (141). Gatsby became a bootlegger so that he could become rich and prosperous. Although with having all of this money, he was still not satisfied with his life. Gatsby just wanted to achieve his one purpose in life which was to lure Daisy Buchanan back into his life. Jordan told Nick of Gatsby’s background, “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay” (83). Gatsby was in love with Daisy, even though Daisy was married. 5 years prior, Daisy was not married, and this is the time to when Gatsby always thinks back to. It makes Gatsby feel that he still might be able to marry Daisy. Since Gatsby had a lot of money, he was able to do extravagant things to try to bring Daisy back to him. Although Gatsby used his money in very careless ways. Nick describes Gatsby life as, “...his Rolls-
People of this class, had no spot in the world, they wanted to be of status, but had no money. In the Novel, the character that represents no money the most is Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle Wilson, married to George Wilson, has no spot in the world. Over the course of the whole novel, she’s having an affair with Tom Buchanan. Although Tom was using Myrtle as a toy and does not want to be with her because she is of no status. This was one way that Myrtle tried to gain status because she felt that since she was seeing someone of higher status that they would accept her, although they don’t. Since Myrtle Wilson has no money, she cannot live a luxurious life as the other characters do in the novel. Myrtle and George wilson live in The Valley of Ashes, which is, “a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills…” (27). The Valley of Ashes is nowhere special, and nobody really wants to live there. As much as Myrtle would like to live somewhere else, she doesn't have the money to. Myrtle feels that she has some spot in the world because she is a professional golfer. Since she is a golfer, she feels that she has way more status than what she actually has. She would tell people about why she married George Wilson as, “I though he knew something about breeding but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe” (39). Myrtle talked as if she was of really high status and as if she was hard to get.