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BOOK CHAPTER 1 PAGE 10-20

In West Egg, a Long Island neighborhood right across the bay from East Egg, Nick rents a home. Nick
notes that all things except shape and size were substantially different between the two villages. The
"new rich"—those who have just recently amassed wealth and lack the social standing or cultural
sophistication to be acceptable among the "old money" families of East Egg—live in West Egg. East Egg,
a "new money" town, facing East Egg, an "old money" town, across the lake, metaphorically illustrating
the animosity between the two classes. It demonstrates how he can live in both worlds that "old
money" Nick rents a home in "new money" West Egg. The "new rich" in the West Egg are distinguished
by extravagant shows of wealth that the old money families find repulsive. For instance, Gatsby's home,
who Nick only knows by name, is next to Nick's tiny cottage, which he calls a "eye-sore." Gatsby's estate
is a mammoth recreation of a French hotel that is encircled by forty acres of gorgeous lawns and
gardens and is covered with ivy. The "new money" class, which overcompensates for its lack of social
connections through extravagant displays of wealth, is represented by Gatsby's mansion. This trashy
attitude is viewed by the "old money" elite as evidence of their inferiority to the "new money." The
major plot starts when Nick, who resides in West Egg but has contacts in East Egg, travels to East Egg for
dinner at the Buchanans. Nick's cousin Daisy Buchanan's husband Tom was also a Yale student, so Nick
had some acquaintance with him. Tom is dressed for riding when Nick gets there. Tom addresses Nick
with politeness but indifference. Nick recalls how many Yale students disliked Tom and observes how
little Tom's haughtiness and intimidating stature have altered since then. Given that only the wealthy
with large rural estates enjoyed horseback riding, Tom's riding attire immediately establishes him as a
member of the "old money" class. The "new money" from the cities wouldn't ride a horse. However,
Tom's regal riding garb cannot conceal his enormous frame, just as his politeness cannot.

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