The Great Gatsby Significance and Use of Setting

Long Island, NY

East Egg, NY East Egg is the place where the "old money" lives. The East Eggers are the aristocrats and have lived with their money for generations. There is a specific code of conduct for this group: – Specific manners – Never talk about your money! Contempt for so called "new money" people, who could cause the downfall of their society. Lower class people were looked down on regardless of current wealth or lifestyle.

West Egg, NY The West Eggers are the "new money" that the East Eggers resent. Do not behave properly or have the same refined manners as the East Eggers. They are all lower and middle class people who have outrageous amounts of money, and spend it in an outrageous or “tacky” manner. Money was often earned through emerging businesses—stock market, bootlegging, the movie industry/ Broadway theater

Larger Context: East vs. West The people of the East considered the Western United States the barbaric frontier. The country was growing out West and it (and West Eggers) was viewed as young and immature. The West, however, has a stronger moral compass—old-fashioned values. The East is superficial and easily corrupted.