Chapter 7

Trimalchio was the main character and protagonist in Petronius' Satyricon. He was a freed slave who gained fame and power through dedication and hard work. After Trimalchio attained great wealth, he spent a great deal of money throwing lavish parties. The main purpose of these parties was to impress. Gatsby, like Trimalchio, was newly rich and intent upon building the right connections and impressing the right people..... mainly Daisy. Fitzgerald's early version of Gatsby was actually titled "Trimalchio in West Egg".