After World War I, but prior to the Great Depression, there was a great distinction between social classes in the United States. During this time, there were many extremely rich people but also many citizens living in poverty. The novel The Great Gatsby mainly focuses on the lives of the wealthy, but it does mention the less fortunate to give the reader an idea of the difference in lifestyles and living arrangements.

In this passage, the narrator, Nick, is describing the scenes in West and East Egg, New York. He also mentions the valley of ashes, which lies between West Egg and New York City. He makes it obvious to the reader which settings are luxurious and which one is a home to blue-collar workers. This is done when Nick states, "Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water." In saying...