The entire spectrum of social classes during the 1920's is represented in The Great Gatsby. Tom, Daisy, and Jordan represent the aristocracy of the novel. They are the "old money"; born into their wealth; knowing no other lifestyle. Jay Gatsby is the "new money". He depicts one of the many people of the 1920's who grew suddenly rich, usually through illegal means. The newly emerging middle class is represented by the book's narrator, Nick Carraway. Not too rich and not too poor, he lived comfortably. It is through his eyes and ears that we form our opinions of the other characters. Those many unfortunate souls unfortunate enough to be a part of the lower class were represented by George and Myrtle Wilson. They had the unfortunate distinction of being the silent majority of our society, almost "unseen" by the upper class. These characters help establish what life was like during the Jazz Age. .
The Great Gatsby accurately portrays the rich during the booming 1920's. The readers experience the upper class through Fitzgerald's vivid descriptions of an almost dreamlike world. Tom Buchanan was born wealthy into a Midwestern family. Although given the opportunity to be well-educated, he was a former college football star. His days are spent entertaining himself and his wife Daisy. Tom is a presumptuous brute of a man who uses both his physical and financial "superiority" to get what he wants. Through him, Fitzgerald depicts the upper class as being uncaring to the plight of the lower classes.
Like the flower for which she is named, Daisy is delicate and lovely. Also a member of the elite upper class, she was born wealthy, and married wealthy. Though this can be perceived as shallowness, it was typical behavior for the upper class woman. Wealthy married wealthy. Daisy is in love with money, ease, and material luxury. She is capable of affection (she seems truly fond of Nick and occasionally seems to honestly love Gatsby), but not of sustained loyalty or care.
