FAQ About The Great Gatsby

The East and West Eggs in "The Great Gatsby" are fictional locations on Long Island, New York, and are symbolic of the class divide in American society during the 1920s.

West Egg is where Jay Gatsby lives, and is home to the "new money" people who have recently acquired their wealth through various means, such as bootlegging or other illegal activities. These people are seen as vulgar and crass by those from the more established and old-money society, represented by the residents of East Egg.

East Egg, on the other hand, is home to the "old money" people who have inherited their wealth and social status. These people are considered more refined and cultured, but also snobbish and exclusive.

The East and West Eggs symbolize the divide between the newly rich and the established elite, and the tension between them. Gatsby, who lives in West Egg, is desperate to be accepted into the upper echelon of society represented by East Egg and is willing to go to great lengths to achieve this goal.

The East and West Eggs serve as a symbol of the social and economic divisions in American society during the 1920s and the desire of those from humble backgrounds to break into the exclusive circles of the wealthy and powerful.