The 1920s and The Great Gatsby The Jazz Age The 1920s and The Great Gatsby Works cited: enotes, grafton english department

Geography of the Time Throughout the novel, places and settings epitomize the various aspects of the 1920s American society that Fitzgerald depicts. The East is connected to the moral decay and social cynicism of New York . The Mid -West is connected to more traditional social values and ideals.

Geography of the Novel East Egg = the old aristocracy West Egg = the newly rich

The Rich Newly Rich characteristics: vulgar, gaudy, lacking social graces, but sincere & loyal. Since they worked for their money they have a greater appreciation of their status. Old Rich characteristics: socially graceful, classical style, elegant, but lacking heart and inconsiderate. Money has resolved all of their problems

Jazz Age and the Roaring 20’s The Jazz Age is the time period after World War I (1918) and ends with the stock market crash of 1929. During this time, America experienced an economic boom and expansion.

Jazz Age and the Roaring 20’s Prior to the 1920s, mainstream American music mostly consisted of folk tunes. With the invention and popularity of the phonograph and radio, regional music like the blues could now be heard nationwide. New York society embraced this new hybrid music and jazzmen like Louis Armstrong became a household name.

Jazz Age and the 1920s Women gained more independence. They experienced more financial freedom and a more opportunistic lifestyle. The 19th Amendment passed in 1919. Women were granted to the right to vote by 1920. Flappers were young women who dressed up in jewelry, feather boas and wore bobbed hairdos. In The Great Gatsby, Jordan Baker represents a new breed of woman in America with a sense of power during this time.

Prohibition in the 1920s As a result of the emerging liberalism in big cities, the U.S. government imposed legislation restricting the manufacture and distribution of liquor. Prohibition only fostered a large underworld industry and speakeasies, a type of illegal bar, cropped up everywhere.

Corruption of the 1920s New York was under the control of corrupt politicians and police who were taking money from shady operators who engaged in bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling. Arnold Rothstein is depicted in The Great Gatsby as Meyer Wolfsheim. His campaign contributions entitled him to a monopoly of prostitution and gambling.

Corruption of the 1920s and the Black Sox Scandal Due to low attendance during World War I players salaries were cut back. The White Sox, who were favored to win the World Series of 1919 against the Cincinnati Reds, threatened to strike. With the help of Arnold Rothstein, a bookmaker raised money to pay the players and placed bets that the White Sox would lose the Series. The Sox proceeded to suffered one of the greatest upsets in baseball history.

The Great Gatsby Each character represents some aspect of the social and moral decay of the decade. Tom Buchanan, an inconsiderate bully Daisy Buchanan, selfish and materialistic Nick Carraway, folksy mid-westerner Jay Gatsby, elusive, sincere, loyal, and a hopeless romantic

The American Dream The ideal that one can achieve success regardless of family history, race, or religion simply by working hard enough. Name some literary characters that believed this philosophy.