In The Great Gatsby, why is the setting important?

The setting is important in this classic novel for several reasons. Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, and Nick are all out of place where they are. They have all been uprooted, all moved in search of some better destiny, or, in Gatsby's case, a whole new life. This indicates the rootlessness of American life, and the threat this mobility carries to character. They are specifically in the East, rather than the Midwest, and this is traditionally the older, more corrupt part of the story. At specific times, the setting is even more directly important: Gatsby's house is large and garish during parties, but touching, because he bought it so he could look across at Daisy's house.