Read the following excerpt from The Great Gatsby:

"Who is this Gatsby anyhow?" demanded Tom suddenly. "Some big bootlegger?" "Where'd you hear that?" I inquired. "I didn't hear it. I imagined it. A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know." "Not Gatsby," I said shortly.
Which two themes does this passage best convey?
A. Old money is scornful of new money; in America, class rivalry can breed stereotypes.
B. Living a life of fantasy has its consequences; imagination is a poor substitute for reality.
C. Hard work can lead one from rags to riches; wealth is the solution to one's problems.
D. The American Dream cannot be corrupted; in America, social class trumps financial success.

Old money is scornful of new money; in America, class rivalry can breed stereotypes. This is because Tom exclaims
"... A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know." Which shows his frustration

Answer Link

mcarc09 mcarc09 · Answer 2 · 2019-11-15T14:48:18+01:00

Answer:

The answer is letter A. Old money is scornful of new money; in America, class rivalry can breed stereotypes.

Explanation:

The famous novel "The Great Gatsby", by F. Scott Fitzgerald, has as two of its themes the degradation of the American dream and the superficiality of the upper class. That is precisely what is portrayed in this excerpt.

In this interaction, we have Nick, the narrator, and Tom. Tom is a wealthy man from a wealthy family. He represents "old money". Even though he lacks moral and values, he believes he is superior to the "newly rich people"; after all, he did not have to work hard for his own money - it is something he has always taken for granted. He is a gentleman in the sense that can live off of his inheritance. The newly rich are not his equal, they do not have his family, his history, his merit, in Tom's opinion. He has chosen to believe that they are criminals, bootleggers, for no one could become that rich overnight unless their family was already rich.

In this case, Tom is, unfortunately, right. Gatsby is indeed a bootlegger, fitting the stereotype created by the upper class. He represents the degradation of the American dream. Instead of working hard and remaining honest, Gatsby chose the easier, faster path to wealth. The American promise to the people is that everyone has a chance to get a job, to provide for themselves and their families, to access education and so on. It is not a promise to grow rich instantly by being a criminal.