Gatsby guest list

Gatsby's parties are symbolic of achieving the American dream. Also, the guests are identified for the purpose of allowing the reader to visualize the lifestyle and setting of the book. This period in history, just after World War I and the Great Spanish Flu Epidemic which killed between 40 and 50 million people, depicts a time when people wanted to forget about war and disease and just have lavish parties. Guests came from East Egg, the location of the old money and long established social importance. Guests came from West Egg, newer members of the social elite. The guest list for Gatsby's party supports Gatsby's efforts to support his delusion of being one of the beautiful and important people in the New York social society of his time.