How is the Great Gatsby a metaphor to the 1920s? In English class, we are reading the Great Gatsby now. My English teacher wants us to write a paragraph about how the Great Gatsby is a metaphor to the 1920s. In my opinion, 1920s was a decade for materialism. In the Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby holds ostentation parties in his huge fancy mansion. All the excess luxuries show up in the Great Gatsby is a metaphor for the materialism. In the book the Great Gatsby, the Island near New York city is split into two parts which are East Egg and West Egg. The two sides of the island are also a metaphor for the American Dream in the 1920s. The two sides of the island live two different groups of people who are referred to the Old Money and the New Money. The New Money has American Dream, and they work hard to achieve their dreams. Jay Gatsby is one of the New Money group, he works hard to make money so that he can achieve his American Dream. I know there are a lot of problems in this paragraph, please help me correct them. Thank you so much!!!!