Passage 3
" I was immediately struck by the number of young English men dotted about; all well dressed, all looking a little hungry and all talking in low earnest voices to solid and prosperous Americans"
I was immediately able to pick out a euphemism the minute I read this passage. Nick had described the Englishmen as "looking a little hungry" and when you read that line in context with the rest of the passage you can see that it's refferring to their jealousy of the "solid and prosperous Americans". During the 1920's it was failry common for a middle class American to become a millionare overnight due to the stock market and the booming economy. It is an understatement to say that these Englishmen are a little upset that they had to spend years of their life working their way up the social ladder while the Americans at this party most likely earned their money and rose to the top in almost no time at all. They have to come here kissing up to these Americans in the hope of striking some kind of business deal and sharing in their prosperity. These Enlishmen obviously feel some envy and resentment towards these Americans and it is more than just being "a little hungry"; they are like bloodthirsty sharks ready to tear these Americans apart at the first chance they get.
I really do agree with you on the way Americans had more opportunities to gain new money than the British, especially in that era. The Prohibition law in the 1920's stared the widespread bootlegging business which may have contributed to the overnight wealth of many. Also, the increased popularity of public entertainment (movies, sports, radio, broadway) added common people to the affluent class of America.
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