East Egg Snobs -- Diction

      Throughout the novel, the author’s use of contrasting diction regarding the different classes of people in New York effectively portrays his mocking tone, establishing his belief that although the older money in eastern New York firmly attests that they are of higher social class than the newer money in western New York, the two classes of people are in fact similar and possess few discrepancies. For example, when Tom forcefully asks Nick to meet his mistress, Nick denies the offer; however, Tom does not cease his insistence, and Nick comments that “the supercilious assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do” (Fitzgerald 24). Tom’s haughtiness is evident by the way Nick describes his demands as “supercilious,” yet Nick’s biting thoughts also reveal that he too believes that whatever he is doing is more important than what anyone else is doing, including Tom. Tom is condescending and inconsiderate, as noted by his rude “assumption” that Nick does not have prior commitments; however, Nick jointly expresses that same characteristic by acting as if Tom’s desires are not worth his time. Though Tom may feel that he is of higher status than Nick, Nick simultaneously illustrates the same quality of misconceived hierarchy, proving that both are naïve, self-centered people that deserve the author’s mocking. Also, when Nick recalls the types of people he met (or heard of) at Gatsby’s parties, he notes that some people from East Egg “always gathered in a corner and flipped up their noses like goats at whosoever came near” (62). By employing the word “goats,” the reader can sense Nick’s aversion to the proud East Egg people that go to Gatsby’s parties. Referring to these people as “goats” lessens their supposed superiority and in turn humorously ridicules that they are immature snobs who put forth that they are of higher class than everyone else, but in reality have no substance behind their claim. On the other end of the spectrum, but also of East Egg money, is a man at Gatsby’s party who is “so drunk out on the gravel drive that [a woman’s] automobile ran over his right hand” (62). The author’s choice to mention the incident with the automobile further reinforces the fact that although East Egg people put on an esteemed façade, they are identical in nature to the West Egg inhabitants; this proves that people are all alike no matter what sort of financial background they come from. Nick also mentions that there were some people from West Egg who “came to gamble” (62). Using the statement that they simply “came to gamble” justifies the reality that the West Egg people are relatively low-mannered. It is ironic that even though both parties are being ill-mannered, each one still retains the notion that they are better than the other, when in truth, both sides are being unsophisticated “goats.” Through the use of comparative and contrasting diction, the rhetor creates a mocking tone intended to unite the East and West eggs and help them realize that they are not all that different from each other despite their inaccurate, unrelenting opinions.