Reading novels written almost a hundred years ago, such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, allows us now to analyze class division and find parallels to our world now. The novel constantly displays how social classes were divided through conflicts that can easily be overlooked, but do speak volumes about the culture of the 1920’s. We observe that the proletariat is dependent on the bourgeoisie, which suggests that the proletariat is subject to use by the bourgeoisie at their own desire for whatever they desire.
Wilson keeps questioning Tom about the car Tom had said he wanted to sell. Tom is a person of wealth and material which makes him a bourgeoisie and Wilson is much more of a proletariat due to his lack of money and material. Wilson is building his own automobile repair company, but to build up credibility and knowledge he seeks out a repairable car to work on from Tom. When Wilson questions Tom about the car Tom uses the excuse that it is still being worked on by another person. “”And if you feel that way about it, maybe I’d better sell it somewhere else after all,” (Fitzgerald 22).
Tom is aware of Wilson being in need of him and his material which prompts him to teases Wilson with his wealth. We are told that Wilson has this company, but no cars to work on. Since cars are highly representative of wealth and it is clear that Wilson does not have this wealth which explains why he is seeking out a physical way to display any of the little wealth he does have. It is also apparent in the tone Tom uses with Wilson that he is intentionally using Wilson in order to expand his wealth and build himself up further.
Tom does not need anything Wilson has to offer, which is why he threatens to do his business elsewhere, but if Tom had accepted the deal he would only have benefited from the exchange. Wilson would have been able to appear much wealthier to other proletariats after obtaining an automobile; however, Tom would have been able to invest in material that is of higher value that Wilson still would never be able to reach. Tom does not sell the car to Wilson which clearly displays the bourgeoisie manipulating and toying with the proletariat.
Tom does not use Wilson to his own advantage, but he does prevent Wilson from being able to grow by locking him into this deal only to not follow through. Wilson could have pursued another car or invested in another item to prevent the stalemate he was in, but Tom was able to manipulate him into waiting for nothing. This shows that the bourgeoisie is aware that the proletariat needs them to be able to climb to a higher status and does not always use their power for good, but most of the time the bourgeoisie will take advantage of the situation and manipulate the outcome to be in their favor.
This is evident when Wolfsheim is said to work with Gatsby in their secret business. Gatsby earned his money rather than inheriting it which means he once was a proletariat. Knowing this Wolfsheim used Gatsby to build his business larger while Gatsby was building his own wealth as well. The trade off in this partnership was both positive, but both sides received a benefit. There is always a plus for the higher class and the outcome for the lower class will vary between positive and negative.
The proletariat will always be in search of a bourgeoisie that will help them advance to a higher social class, but that person may not always help as wanted which causes social mobility to be difficult. We also see Gatsby, who is clearly a person with wealth and much material, using his status to avoid conflict with the law when an officer confronts him. “Right you are,’ agreed the policeman, tipping his cap. ‘Know you next time, Mr. Gatsby. Excuse me! ” (Fitzgerald 52).
The policeman, a proletariat, is being used by Gatsby’s wealth and status to avoid any and all consequences any other person would be subjected to if they had violated the rules as Gatsby had. This displays the power that a bourgeoisie may have against the proletariat and how they actively use it. The proletariat will not fight back because complying will mean that the two remain on good terms, thus allowing the proletariat to have the illusion of having a source to go to when it comes to trying to advance themselves.
It is clear that the officer was glad to let Gatsby get by without any consequence after knowing of his wealth, status, and connection with the commissioner, which Gatsby knew how to benefit from these assets prior to their encounter. This knowledge is what creates a stronger division between the classes since the bourgeoisie knowingly uses the proletariat to their own advantage. When the proletariat agrees to comply with the bourgeoisie’s rules and requests they allow a connection to be made between the two people which hopefully will lead to a benefit for the proletariat in the future.
The proletariat would not bend the rules for anyone unless it meant they could possibly gain wealth or a connection to advance themselves in the future; that is the hope. Tom and Wilson are portrayed to already have known each other before their deal about the car was made which displays how the proletariat can use this positive connection to try to build their own wealth. We also know that it is not only Gatsby who can get away with breaking the law and creating many beneficial connections with the lower class.
“Why isn’t he in jail? ‘They can’t get him, old sport. He’s a smart man,” (Fitzgerald 55). Gatsby says Wolfsheim is not in jail because he is smart, meaning he knows how to use his power and money to get away with many things. This bribery can result in the proletariats working for Wolfsheim because they see themselves as the one benefiting from the deal. Wolfsheim is able to bypass the law with this knowledge while creating the illusion that the proletariat is making their way up to a higher social class when in reality the upper class is becoming even wealthier.
This growth in wealth for both parties create the illusion that they are each growing individually, which does not shorten the gap resulting in no different economic statuses. Through Tom and Wilson’s pending deal and Gatsby and Wolfsheim dodging the law, we observe that the bourgeoisie have a special respect from others. This respect comes from the illusion that if the proletariat works with and for the bourgeoisie, they will be able to reach a status close to one of the bourgeoisie. In reality the gap only gets redefined as both groups attempt to make their way up the ladder of social status.
The Great Gatsby displays this conflict during the twentieth century through all the characters. Any member of any given status will be reliant upon and utilize a member of the other class in order to advance themselves up to a higher level social class. This is still evident today. People will go to great lengths to hopefully end up in a higher social class, but the upper class gets redefined and nobody moves up. This ends up with the bourgeoisie and the proletariat depending on each other to build themselves up but ultimately create a permanent divide between the two groups.
