Great Gatsby Social Class Analysis

There are generally considered to be three distinct social classes based largely on income, which include: the upper, middle, and lower socioeconomic classes. These strictly income based classes were not as prevalent in the 1920s when The Great Gatsby is set. At this time there were a minimum of four social classes which included: the upper class, which was split into old and new money, the newly formed middle class, and the ever existent lower class.The plot of The Great Gatsby deals primarily with the distinct upper classes and the slight difference between them. In the novel The Great Gatsby, the main protagonist Jay Gatsby does not desire to change social class. While there are innumerable reasons supporting this claim, there are indisputable ones which are the fact that he quits throwing parties after Daisy becomes enthralled with him, he never makes any noticeable attempts to become part of another social class, and the illegal means to which he gained his wealth would have been frowned upon by his would be old money friends.
The counterargument to this could possibly be that Gatsby’s intention was to ascend social classes and be equal to his peers, thus allowing him to earn the respect …show more content…
This illegal possession of wealth was frowned upon by virtually all of the old wealthy. For example, another depiction of this time period in The Giant depicts a similar situation to this whereas Bick Benedict, the epitome of old money, is initially against the expansion of this possibly shady oil business. Tom Buchanan, in The Great Gatsby, uses Gatsby’s illegal income to fuel Daisy’s dislike and distrust of him. The felonious methods, of which Gatsby obtained his funds would have been uncommon during this time as many people had legally made money by occupations such as the lucrative oil, shipping, or the railroad