Notes

concept: The purpose of allusion is to characterize Tom and Daisy as racist and ignorant. Tom is initially described as a very strong football player and started reading "deep books with long words in them according to Daisy" He explains to Nick how the novel 'The Rise of the Colored empires" has "scientifically" proven that if white peple do not maintain dominance than other races will have control and the fabric of society will be destroyed. Even Daisy is seen by her reaction through this quote by calling Tom profound in jest she even admits that we have to "beat them down" implying that she also agrees with Tom about racism being needed to keep society from collapsing.

Connection: One of the most famous idioms is that the grass is always greener on the other side.
- many people today still subscribe themselves to the idea of Social Darwinism where people are rich and wealthy because they work hard and they deserve it. Initially even Nick believes this idea because he has chosen to move to New Egg from West Egg to pursue Bonds in order to acquire more wealth. The allusion to 'The Rise of the Colored Empires' characterizes Tom as ignorant despite being a rich socialite. Fitzgerald is critiquing the high social class of East Egg. They are wealthy not due to their skills or talent but rather their lineage/inheritance. Tom even believes that people deserve their status based on race, as he states that "it is up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control over things" (13). It is no stress to say that many socialites in East Egg share a similiar opinion or mindset, throughout the novel, Nick seems tolerant and complacent with these people and their actions, but eventualy becomes so disgusted at their egotistic ideals. That he denounces that everyone there, and chooses to return to West Egg