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Literary Elements in The Great Gatsby


Because of Tom's wealth he has become abusive and self-centered; his life is centered on himself and his assets. "Tom's restlessness is an arrogant demanding seeking to evade in the bluster the deep uneasiness of self-knowledge" (Cowley 19). As for Daisy Buchanan she is only interested in herself and will use any avenue that will ultimately benefit her. Over all the members from the novel that reside in East Egg are selfish and arrogant. They have no respect for any other members of other social classes.
             West Egg represents new wealth. The characters that live in West Egg have made their money recently and partially on their own. Nick Carroway is educated at Yale and is beginning to start his career in bonds when he first moves to West Egg. He is an honest and helpful man with good moral qualities. He helps his girlfriend Jordan Baker with her problems revolving around cheating. But not all the members of West Egg have earned their money honestly. Others "have found new wealth through desperate and dishonest means" (Mulford). Jay Gatsby for instance, gains most of his wealth through inheritance and criminal activity. But what Gatsby values the most is Daisy's love. He believes with his wealth he will be able to 'buy' Daisy's love and the life he has always dreamt of. He is willing to do anything to gain the social and economic position he thinks is necessary to win Daisy. Members of the West Egg are not accepting towards their social and economic position. In contrast to the East Egg, West Egg is broken on the outside it is visible for all to see but on the inside is more pure and somewhat good hearted. .
             The rock bottom place in this novel is The Valley of Ashes. This place represents the socially rejected. The characters in the Valley of Ashes present the image of poverty. "This is the valley of dry bones, the waste land, the dusty replica of modern society, where ash-grey men are crumbling like Eliot's hollow men" (Mulford).


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