East Egg vs. West Egg

East Egg and West Egg both show how people are separated by their wealth. East Egg and West Egg represent Old Money and New Money. East Egg has more social clout, respectabillity, and "taste" than those resising in West Egg. In the time setting for this novel, this division was distinct and very relevant. "Old money" was considered more respectable than "new money" and this is evident in the social depiction of life in East Egg and life in West Egg. Consider, for example, how Daisy (an East Egger) considers Gatsby's (West Egg) parties to be decadent and unlike the civilized gatherings she is accustomed to attending.



East Egg is full of wealthy people, as is West Egg, but East Egg has many of the "old money" people, such as Tom and Daisy Buchanan.

The East Egg thinks of themselves as a higher class above the West Egg. West Egg is made up of "new money", people who have recently acquired wealth. Jay Gatsby is an example of new money, getting all his money from bootlegging. New money was not as well-respected as old money was back then.