One of the most important similarities between the social classes is their firm attachment to the American Dream. Whether it is the old money elite of East Egg, the parvenus of West Egg, or the lower-class denizens of the Valley of Ashes, everyone it seems is committed to the headlong pursuit of riches and the opulent lifestyle that it brings. The consequences for all classes is damaging in some way, but it is notable that the less socially prominent, in the shape of Myrtle Wilson and Gatsby, are the ones who come off the worst. The main reason for this is that both Myrtle and Gatsby are striving for something they do not have; both yearn for acceptance from the established upper class and seek to escape their humble backgrounds. The likes of Tom and Daisy, however, already enjoy what Jay and Myrtle can only dream of. However, the American Dream also has a negative impact upon them, corrupting their souls as they indulge themselves in a shallow, vacuous existence.
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