The Stranger
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald creates the roaring twenties by showing the division of society. The Buchanans live on one side, East Egg, and Jay Gatsby lives on the other side, West Egg. The Buchanans belong to the socialites, yet their lives have no meaning. Gatsby tries to chase the American Dream, yet his idea is tarnished. He throws parties to try and fit in with the socialites. Gatsby's idea of the American Dream is doomed because he tries to buy his way into a society that will never accept him. Gatsby gets his idea of how to achieve the American Dream from Benjamin Franklin's autobiography In Chapter nine, Mr. Wolfshiemshows Nick an old book of Gatsby's which has a daily schedule in the back of it. Gatsby thought he could improve himself if he would "practice elocution, poise and how to attain it; read one improving book or magazine per week; and be better to parents." By planning out every minute of his day, he could attain the wealth that would win the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are a part of East Egg society. East Eggers have inherited their wealth and settle on the traditions of high class society. They did not work for their money so they do not appreciate it the way West Eggers do. Like the West Eggers, East Eggers have not obtained the American Dream either. Tom is rich and has a beautiful wife and on the outside it looks like he has the perfect life. The only problem is that he cheats on his wife with Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle's husband, George, loves her, but she is a money chaser. She says, "I thought he was a gentleman . . . but he wasn't fit to lick my shoe . . . he borrowed somebody's best suit to get married in . . . "She couldn't appreciate the fact that George was working hard to provide for her. She just wanted money and found it in a relationship with a married man. Here Fitzgerald shows the other side of the American Dream. Myrtle has the love but not the money, and Gatsby has the money but not the love....
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