Defining Class ... The Great Gatsby
...to life a finger for their money. These characters are what Fitzgerald would call “old rich” People who are old rich are more commonly known as aristocrats. There types of people are often associated with cocky attitudes, laziness, a bit of ignorance, and in many cases a lot of unhappiness covered up by a one hundred dollar smile. What old rich posses in class, they lack in emotion. For example, at the end of chapter nine instead of attending Gatsby’s funeral Tom and Daisy carelessly packed up and moved to a new place far away as if his death was no bother to them. From an outsider’s view point this lifestyle may seem enchanting, granted that the dark secrets are kept hidden, especially to an outsider like Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle was a third class woman from the Valley of ashes, which in the novel symbolized more and social decay due to a lack of wealth. To Myrtle being wealthy was all she needed to be happy. This started the interweaving plot of class structure. When Myrtle Wilson winds up with Tom Buchanan Chaos erupted. Myrtle could not find satisfaction with her poor husband, George, so she tried to live a life that was not hers. There Fitzgerald showed how deceitful people are and what money can do to a person’s mentality. He seemed to be criticizing human nature and the idea that money can buy happiness. George loved Myrtle and she wanted no part of him, yet Tom was wretched to her but she was so drawn to him. Then there is the concept of new rich, which Fitzgerald seems to think, is just as mentally twisted as the aristocrats. He portrayed them as show offs and drew the idea that they just want to fit in with the old rich. Jay Gatsby for example was a character so obsessed with the idea of money changing him to be someone he’s not that he risked his reputation earning his riches my scamming his way past the American Dream. Once Gatsby earned his wealth and recognition he began to portray himself as old rich, mingling with people with old money and acting like he himself were an aristocrat. He even changed his name to be accepted in their society. He gloated about his yachts, imported clothing, Rolls Royce, and his hydroplane. All these possessions and his at...