Class and Social Status

"I'll tell you God's truth." His right hand suddenly ordered divine retribution to stand by. "I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West—all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition."

Americans, while willing, even eager, to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry.

"I'd like to know who he is and what he does," insisted Tom. "And I think I'll make a point of finding out."

His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people—his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all.

"Who is this Gatsby anyhow?" demanded Tom suddenly. "Some big bootlegger?"

"My God, I believe the man's coming," said Tom. "Doesn't he know she doesn't want him?"

"She never loved you, do you hear?" he cried. "She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me!"

Daisy and Jordan lay upon an enormous couch, like silver idols weighing down their own white dresses against the singing breeze of the fans.

Flushed with his impassioned gibberish, he saw himself standing alone on the last barrier of civilization.

"Go on. He won't annoy you. I think he realizes that his presumptuous little flirtation is over."