Final answer:
The protagonist who intends to stay briefly in a modest house near West Egg in 'The Great Gatsby' is Nick Carraway, highlighting his lesser wealth compared to Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Great Gatsby, the protagonist who intends to stay for a short time in a modest house near West Egg is Nick Carraway. This detail suggests a contrast in wealth and status between Nick and the other characters inhabiting the more luxurious settings of the novel, particularly Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. Unlike Gatsby, who resides in a lavish mansion, and Tom, who is also extremely wealthy, Nick's modest dwelling implies that he doesn't share the same level of affluence.