The society of the mid-1920s, as described by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novel "The Great Gatsby," was a society of glamor and parties superficial, superficial and material relationships. East Egg is home to the most apathetic part of New York's elite, who only care about their money and view the world around them as disposable. West Egg, however, is full of hard-working people who are willing to look beyond their surface to discover the true potential locked within themselves. Although the two eggs are similar in that they are both very carefree due to their social status, they vary greatly in their level of compassion towards others, as well as their morality. East Egg and West Egg, although similar in nature, ultimately demonstrate differences in terms of value, integrity and responsibility. Throughout the novel, East Egg repeatedly demonstrates the shallow underbelly of upper New York. The residents of this part of the city are what we call “old money,” meaning they come from families whose money is passed down from generation to generation. Nick Carraway demonstrates to the reader the grandeur of the area when he says: "Across Courtesy Bay, the white palaces of fashionable East Egg gleamed on the water's edge..." (Fitzgerald 5), referring to the houses facing its bay. The people who occupy these homes, like Tom and Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker, have never had to work a day in their lives to provide and maintain their lavish and luxurious lifestyles, and will never have to do so in because of the money their family gives them. have acquired through generations. People here are reckless and tend not to want to take responsibility for their actions. Jordan demonstrates...... middle of paper...... itality. (154) Nick must have considered leaving Gatsby for about an hour before getting up to go to work, meaning he had thought about it and decided not to leave his friend, whereas the people of East Egg would have taken the instant decision to leave immediately for their sole benefit. The only reason the two eggs are similar is because they are both careless, albeit in their own way. The East moves forward to escape its troubles, as shown by Tom and Daisy leaving New York after the deaths of Myrtle Wilson and Gatsby, while the West lives in the past, namely Gatsby and his expectations of Daisy. In both cases, neither Egg really thinks about the people around them, but only about themselves and their own desires. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print.