Discuss how Fitzgerald approaches class in 'The Great Gatsby' with reference to the individual in society

There is a very clear class system presented in the novel, despite one of the founding principles of America (the flawed American Dream - equal freedom of opportunity - is one of the central ideas of the novel) is for there to be no class system. The idea that the novel disproves, or perhaps even satirises, is that any one individual may take any place in society that they wish - there are no boundaries of class, essentially.The novel uses the framework of 'old money' and 'new money', as well as the Old and New worlds as its class system. Gatsby is shown, despite being very wealthy, not to fit in by way of clothes and outward appearance (he wears 'a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold-colored tie'), as well as Tom's attitude towards him. By the standards of the American Dream, Gatsby and Tom ought to be equals as they are both wealthy and live similar lifestyles, but this is clearly not the case. Not only does Tom feel a sense of superiority because of the pedigree of his money, Daisy confirms the existence of it by choosing him over Gatsby. This message may not have been so clear had the novel stopped with the idea that there is nothing to be gained from attempting to cross bounadries of wealth (class), but Gatsby's death indicates that there is something to be lost - ultimately, he is punished for defying his social class and attempting to become something other.