Final answer:
Wealth and status were significant for Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan, as they played essential roles in social hierarchy and personal prestige in the 1920s. Their pursuit of wealth reflects both their personal ambitions and the era's societal expectations, with the inherent pressures and disillusionments associated with the American dream.
Step-by-step explanation:
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary world, achieving wealth and status was crucial for characters like Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan. The acquisition and maintenance of wealth were central to the societal fabric of the 1920s, as depicted in works like The Great Gatsby. Characters in Fitzgerald's stories are often seeking or maintaining their place in the social hierarchy through economic prosperity or social maneuvers. Marrying into wealth, a common theme in his works, is showcased as a strategic move to secure and enhance one's position within the elite.
Exclusivity and class segregation emerge as wealthy individuals sought to distance themselves from the urban poor, establishing enclave neighborhoods. In this context, Nick and Tom's pursuit of wealth and the accompanying prestige was not simply a personal endeavor but an attempt to conform to and excel within the expectations of their era. Tom, born into 'old money', already had a secured social standing, while Nick, coming from a less affluent background, sought to rise up in social ranks. Despite their differences, both characters were entrapped in a societal race for status, with their individual successes and failures reflective of the broader American society's valuation of wealth and class distinction.