West Egg and East Egg: How Are They Different?

The towns of West Egg and East Egg in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" are more than just places on a map. They're like two sides of a coin, showing off different social classes and values from the 1920s. Sure, they're both dripping with wealth and luxury, but they're not quite the same. This essay dives into what makes West Egg and East Egg different—looking at how people live there, how they socialize, and what they aim for in life. By poking around these differences, we see how these towns reflect opposing sides of the American Dream and show what comes with wealth and privilege.

'West Egg and East Egg: What Sets Them Apart?'

West Egg: A Peek into New Money

West Egg is on Long Island and it's where all those newly rich folks hang out—they've made their money recently, within their lifetime. Unlike the people over in East Egg, the West Egg crowd is often seen as 'nouveau riche.' They don't have that classy family history tied to old money. The mansions here are huge and flashy but miss that timeless style you find in East Egg homes. Take Gatsby's mansion for instance—it's described as this big extravagant affair that stands out for its lavishness but doesn’t quite have the grace or history like the Buchanan estate does. Folks in West Egg love throwing wild parties to flaunt their wealth, which people from East Egg often see as kinda vulgar.

You can also spot a restless vibe among the West Egg folks—they crave social acceptance big time. This restlessness shows up in Gatsby's endless chase after Daisy Buchanan, who's kind of a symbol for old money society. Those fancy shindigs he throws—with guests from all walks of life—are basically his way of trying to get into East Egg’s elite circle. Yet, despite all his riches and grand parties, Gatsby never really gets accepted by them, which highlights just how big the gap between West and East really is.

East Egg: The World of Old Money

Now flip over to East Egg—it’s all about the old money crowd who’ve had their wealth passed down through generations. People like Tom and Daisy Buchanan are typical here; they carry an air of entitlement and see themselves as keepers of tradition and sophistication. Their mansions ooze history and elegance that speak volumes about longstanding wealth and social rank. Unlike West Egg's loud display of riches, East Egg's style is quieter, relying on subtlety.

The social scene here follows strict rules about conduct and sticking to societal norms. Marrying within their class? Oh yeah—that’s huge! Look at Tom and Daisy’s marriage—it’s all about locking in wealth and power while keeping things status quo among the upper crust. For folks in East Egg, it’s all about who you know, family lineage, reputation—you name it! They’re exclusive alright—quick to turn up their noses at West Egger’s whom they see as lacking those polished old-money sensibilities.

Thoughts and Takeaways

The split between West Egg and East Egg shines a light on what comes with having money in America. West Egg captures the lure of chasing after wealth—the heart of the American Dream—but also reveals its hollowness when aspirations turn shallow. Think about Gatsby—his unrequited love for Daisy alongside his struggle to fit into elite circles highlight new money's limits along with struggles breaking past class lines.

On flip side though? East Egg shows entrenched power from inherited riches revealing insularity plus complacency handed down through generations alongside moral decay that sometimes tags along too—seen plainly enough through Buchanan’s dysfunctional marriage or ignoring consequences right under their noses.

In sum? These aren’t just spots on a map within "The Great Gatsby." They symbolize clashing social classes along with values reflecting differing slices from America's broader dreamscape replete with upsides versus downsides upon pursuing said dreams amid privileges one garners—or not!

References

1. Fitzgerald, F. Scott (2004). The Great Gatsby. Scribner.
2. Sternberg, Janet M (2011). The Society Scenes in "The Great Gatsby". Journal of American Literature.
3. Mizener, Arthur (1951). Biography: Life & Legend of F.Scott Fitzgerald.
4. Bruzelius H (2015) Reconsidering The Great Gatsby: On seeing beyond class divide
5. Tanner T (1979). Class Distinctions in Fitzgerald's Novels - An Analysis