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Essay / East Egg v. West Egg: Who's the Best - 648
Benjamin Franklin once said, “He has no wealth; it owns him. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates the idea of Benjamin Franklin's quote. The Great Gatsby tells the story of a tragic war for love, wealth and power that Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan and Tom Buchanan explore on their own. Fitzgerald sets the scene for The Great Gatsby in East Egg and West Egg. The nouveau riche live in West Egg while those who inherit the "old money" live in East Egg. East Egg and West Egg contrast the angle of old and new wealth. They help the reader notice the different divisions of the upper class and the theme of the American dream. East Egg was known for its long line of wealth. In East Egg, people earned money because their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. were all of rich nature. “Across Courtesy Bay, the white palaces of the fashionable East Egg district glittered on the water's edge...” (10). The people who lived in East Egg associated themselves with extraordinary homes, remarkable clothing, and new cars that were all passed down from generation to generation along with their considerable sums of money. However, those who live in East Egg are not only known for their wealth, but also for their bad personality and attitude towards life. They can be described as carefree, superficial and materialistic. "They were carefree people, Tom and Daisy - they broke things and creatures, then retreated into their money or their great carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and left other people clean up the mess they had made...” (187-188) Although East Egg is considered the higher of the two, West Egg also has much to offer West Egg is made up of those who create their.. .... middle of paper ...... this light was now gone forever Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy, this one had seemed very close, almost touching her. close as a star to the moon Now it was the green light on a dock again. His number of enchanted objects had diminished by one” (98). The “old money” symbolizes the corrupted idea of the American dream and West Egg clings to the brighter, more joyful vision of the American dream. East Egg and West Egg create the image of old and new wealth in the novel. They depict the differences between the subdivisions of the upper class and introduce the theme of the American dream. We find meaning in the distinction between different types of wealth in the novel. We also witness aspects of both types of money in today's society..