Thursday, May 27, 2010

Old $$ vs. New $$


The old rich were conservative people who were used to the wealth and success. Most of them stayed in the west, as not to run into the "new rich" in the east. The bigger cities were in the east, so this is why they were labeled such.

After World War I, women became liberated because of their role in the work force when the men left for war. Once the men came back, women were definitely more outspoken and styles began to change (skirts got shorter)--flapper style, as did their hairstyles. Long gone were the long locks of feminine hairstyles. Many women went with a shorter look.

So all of these changes were going on in the big cities. Those who stayed in the west stayed conservative, while the Roaring 20s continued on recklessly in the east (big cities). The new rich became so materialistic with their new found wealth that they spent without thinking and cared for themselves only. They were not afraid to do something at the expense of another person. This is what separated the old money from the new money. The new money became embarrassing to the old money, which is why they tended to stay where they were and not move to the larger cities. (http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/q-and-a/look-for-general-information-new-rich-old-rich-65327)


F. Scott Fitzgerald uses his novel The Great Gatsby as a way to compare old and new money and to illustrate the lack of morals in those with old money. The main character, Jay Gatsby, representing Fitzgerald's personification of new money, makes his living selling alcohol illegally. He earns his money quickly and is now showing it off with fabulous parties in his oversized mansion in West Egg. Another character, Tom Buchanan, representsold money being the "scion of those ruthless generations who raised up the great American fortunes." (http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2004/5/15/141559/670)

The symbolism of old vs new money represents how we live today. There are some people who are fortunate enough to be born into money and never have to work for it. Money is no use to them once they have all they can possibly want. The new money is to the people who have worked for their wealth and struggled and have earned their coming into fortune. These people may have been less "stuck up" because of their common appreciation of their experience of past difficult times. This shows to not take things for granted.

In general, it seems as though people who came from new money are just simply new to having such a large amount of money. Old money, is for people who have been raised in money.

-It's Gatsby Baby.

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