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Carmen Flores

Mrs. Reed

American Literature

18 November 2016

The Great Gatsbys Socioeconomic Undertones

In chapter seven of F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan discovers the

affair between his wife Daisy, and Jay Gatsby. After this revelation the group decides to travel to

New York, Tom driving Gatsbys yellow Rolls-Royce accompanied by Nick and Jordan, while

Daisy and Gatsby travel in Toms black coupe. The discussion predating this decision is clearly

evidence of a power struggle and support for the socioeconomic undertones contained in the

novel.

During this exchange, one can see the power struggle between Tom Buchanan and Jay

Gatsby. Tom is representative of elite Old Money, with his family line being wealthy, his money

inherited, and his house being in East Egg. Gatsby, on the other hand, is new to wealth. He was

born relatively poor and earned his money himself. These two differences have extreme effects

on the social classes Tom and Gatsby occupy, with Gatsby's self made money being looked down

upon in society. The discussion over cars provides several examples of these two economic

classes clashing. Tom makes the remark, And if it runs out I can stop at a drug-store. You can

buy anything at a drug-store nowadays (Fitzgerald 121). Upon first glance this seems to be an

out of place comment, but in reality is a remark about Gatsbys wealth. We are told during the

story that Gatsby had made his money from a chain of drug-stores, but are also slyly hinted to

that he gained his massive wealth by illegal means such as bootlegging. When Tom says one can
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buy anything at drug stores he is commenting on both Gatsbys illicit affairs and how he has

bought his wealth, instead of inheriting it like Tom.

Also, particularly in this scene Gatsbys car plays a significant role in the struggle over

social class. Earlier in the novel, Gatsbys Rolls-Royce is described by Nick as, ...a rich cream

color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length (Fitzgerald 64).

Words Nick uses such as swollen and monstrous invoke a not entirely fond image of an

ostentatious automobile. The Rolls-Royce is flashy and gaudy, representative of how New

Money was seen at this time. Tom even refers to it as a circus wagon (Fitzgerald 121). Tom

sees this car as so extravagant it is tacky and not at all the refined, polished look associated with

sophisticated old money. However, the car is still representative of Gatsbys immense wealth.

Originally, Gatsby is the one to suggest they travel to New York in his car, undoubtedly in an

attempt to show off. Tom sees this and insists he drive Gatsbys car while Gatsby drives Toms

coupe. The car, in this instant, is treated as a reflection of wealth and power between the two

men.

Clearly, the role of money plays an important part in the struggle of power. Both Tom and

Gatsby are wealthy but their differences reside in where they got their money from. Through

especially this scene in The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald is commenting on the different

social classes of the time period, and how society in the 1920s viewed money and power.