Old Money, New Money, and Everybody Else

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby I would say there is equal representation from the old money population, the new money population, and the "everybody else".

In the beginning of the book, we meet Daisy and Tom Buchanan, who live on the East Egg, where all the "old money" families reside. Tom Buchanan is rich. Not "well-to-do" like Nicks family, or well provided for, but filthy rich. He has a giant estate, and spends his money on things that have virtually no purpose, like a bunch of show ponies. The things he does with his money earns hims the title "Stupid Rich" He is a big, giant, "brute of a man" as Daisy says. 

Jay Gatsby is more refined, private, and purposeful with his money. He has giant, extravagant parties, yes, and like Tom he has a huge estate. However, unlike Tom he has a reason for all of this.

Daisy.

She is the reason he has these over the top parties on the West Egg, hoping that one day she will show up to one of them. He got the giant estate to impress her when she finally came, along with everything inside of it. Gatsby represents many of the "New Money" people. Of course, most of the New Money population doesn't throw what has become known as the stereotypical 1920's party every other day, but they are more purposeful with their money, as they haven't grown up with the same privileges as someone like Tom Buchanan. 

The "Everybody Else" part of New York  during the twenties is not represented as much as the old and new money, but it's still there. The most representation we get is Myrtle Wilson,  Tom's mistress. Myrtle is not stupid rich. She is not filthy rich. She is not even "well to do". Myrtle is no where near as rich as any of the main characters in this book. However, she is desperate to fit in with these people, no matter how much different she is from all of them. To me it is unclear whether or not Myrtle is involved with Tom for his money, or love. Or, it might be to have a connection (however closed off it is) to Tom's world. Whatever the reason be, Myrtle gives us as the readers a view into how the "everybody else" of the twenties felt about being on the outside.