The Great Gatsby Group

Question:

hummer1
hummer1
Student
High School - 11th Grade

How do Jay Gatsby and the Buchannans earn their money?

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Posted by hummer1 on Friday February 13, 2009 at 5:13 AM and tagged with characters, jay gatsby, money, the great gatsby.

Answers:

  1. dneshan
    dneshan Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    First, the Buchannans, Tom, Daisy and their daughter live in East Egg, which tells us that Tom’s family has been wealthy for generations.  There really is no evidence in the novel that tells us where Tom’s family’s money has actually come from; however, it is evident that Tom works in banking, the stock market, or finance just as Nick Carroway does.

    Jay Gatsby, on the other hand, lives in West Egg which tells us that his family is not rich and that he has made his money on his own. Throughout the course of the novel, the reader should recognize that Jay Gatsby has made his money through a series of illegal bootlegging opportunities and has forged many bonds--making his money illegally gotten through his illegal dealings with certain people.

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    Posted by dneshan on Friday February 13, 2009 at 5:31 AM