Friday, May 14, 2010

Old vs. New Money

Old money refers to families who have been wealthy for several generations. In traditional European societies have inherited a large house filled with well-built furniture acquired over the centuries. Their cars are not necessarily the most expensive and capable, but have a bit of restraint, or else they disguise their social position in cars of the middle rank. In reality, however, old money in America wasn’t very old. It was simply that the behavior of some individuals who acquired wealth very quickly offended others. New Money is also known as Nouveau Riche, a term, usually derogatory, to describe persons who acquire wealth within their generation, and spend it conspicuously. The benchmark of the nouveau riche is their acquiring possessions which are touted to them as being the sort of things that rich people would possess. Some of them are equally resentful of the old rich, for them being undeserving of their wealth. For example, many self-made millionaires rose from the middle class, and detest being looked down upon by someone who has not proven themselves to be worthy of their wealth, by simply having inherited it.

In the 1920s most Americans were in pursuit of the infamous American Dream.? The American dream was to be rich, successful, happy, and to be one of the social elites. However, the few that got there were labeled the new money. The new money is different from the old because the old never had to work for it. The old money treated the new money differently than ordinary people, but still deemed them inferior. People got to the top by which ever means they could. Americans put their values and morals away to reach the unreachable dream.


Blondie said...

Where are your sources? You must also reference Gatsby in every post. Try to change your background and your heading. A little boring. Good sidebar information. 60/75

Ms. Donahue