Location and Class : A Study of the Significance of Place and Social Standing in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Abstract: This essay focuses on location and class in The Great Gatsby. The essay argues that the aspect of location has a defining role in the characters' effort to become a part of the leisure class. The essay will show that some characters use location to elevate their social status and consequently become members of the leisure class: Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Tom and Daisy Buchanan all use location to elevate their social standing. In addition the essay will show how location works against the characters Myrtle and George in their desire for a better life, and consequently they have to use other methods to try to acquire what they want. Thus, as location is shown to be a method for elevating the characters' social status it also becomes apparent that this method is only available for those who already have a substantial amount of money.