1. The Great Gatsby The 1920s and the American Dream

3. The 20s: an age of transition World War I and After "The world must be made safe for democracy" Woodrow Wilson the President had declared, "Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundation of political liberty." --- a spirit of idealism Americans entered the war in 1917. a general disillusionment among the people which caused nervousness: racism, intolerance, violence, Ku Klux Klan, immigrants, political intolerance "ghost of bolshevism" behind every form of social protest/ strikes. 1922 foreign policy of Isolationism 1929 Stock Market Crash 1932 New Deal era

4. Roaring Twenties Economy booming Economy booming America partied America partied Organized crime Organized crime Prohibition Act Prohibition Act Decline of moral standards Decline of moral standards

5. OPTIMISM business, change and innovation, laissez faire- economy business, change and innovation, laissez faire- economy rapid growth of industry and mechanization: unlimited progress effecting an even wider distribution of the blessing of civilizations : electricity; automobile rapid growth of industry and mechanization: unlimited progress effecting an even wider distribution of the blessing of civilizations : electricity; automobile even skeptics believe in progress and in solving of problems: new" Golden Age" for America even skeptics believe in progress and in solving of problems: new" Golden Age" for America

6. CRITICS they called the decade "decline and degradation" they called the decade "decline and degradation" Americans are caught up in a "surge of materialism", people who had failed to grasp the meaning and significance of life. Americans are caught up in a "surge of materialism", people who had failed to grasp the meaning and significance of life. they feel disillusioned or disenchanted, they lost faith in life and in the possibility of social progress that caused their absolute lack of interest in politics. they feel disillusioned or disenchanted, they lost faith in life and in the possibility of social progress that caused their absolute lack of interest in politics.

7. SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE OF CHANGE relaxing of structures within the sphere of private and public morality relaxing of structures within the sphere of private and public morality relationship between the sexes relationship between the sexes change of the status of women change of the status of women

8. SPIRIT OF THE 20s urbanization and the move away from the land urbanization and the move away from the land fascination with the dream of success fascination with the dream of success development of the cinema as a medium of entertainment development of the cinema as a medium of entertainment popularity of jazz popularity of jazz increased mobility brought about by the mass produced automobile increased mobility brought about by the mass produced automobile

9. PROHIBITION the 18th Amendment(1919)prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol. the 18th Amendment(1919)prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol. although alcohol was illegal it was distributed through" bootleggers" although alcohol was illegal it was distributed through" bootleggers" bootlegging means the production and sale of liquor. bootlegging means the production and sale of liquor. alcohol was served in illegal night-clubs which were called "speakeasies" alcohol was served in illegal night-clubs which were called "speakeasies" it was the time of famous gangsters like Al Capone and events like the St. Valentine's Day massacre happened. During that time the Mafia became important in American society. it was the time of famous gangsters like Al Capone and events like the St. Valentine's Day massacre happened. During that time the Mafia became important in American society.

10. THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN The 19th Amendment(1920) gave women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment(1920) gave women the right to vote. during the Twenties 9 million women were employed and earned money on their own, many younger women used their money to enjoy themselves during the Twenties 9 million women were employed and earned money on their own, many younger women used their money to enjoy themselves women bobbed their hair women bobbed their hair they were able to drink and smoke in public. For the first time female alcoholism is a major problem. they were able to drink and smoke in public. For the first time female alcoholism is a major problem. the liberated young women were called" flappers" In The Great Gatsby Jordan Baker is such a new type of woman. She is living alone and has equal relationships to men. She is self-confident in dealing with others. Tom comments on her new freedom as a woman. the liberated young women were called" flappers" In The Great Gatsby Jordan Baker is such a new type of woman. She is living alone and has equal relationships to men. She is self-confident in dealing with others. Tom comments on her new freedom as a woman.

11. Books That Define the Time “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot: The ultimate indictment of the modern world's loss of personal, moral, and spiritual values. “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot: The ultimate indictment of the modern world's loss of personal, moral, and spiritual values. The New Negro by Alain Locke: A hopeful look at the negro in America The New Negro by Alain Locke: A hopeful look at the negro in America Strange Interlude by Eugene O'Neill: A look at 30 years in the life of a modern woman Strange Interlude by Eugene O'Neill: A look at 30 years in the life of a modern woman The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway: The lost generation of expatriates The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway: The lost generation of expatriates Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis: A satirical look at small town life Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis: A satirical look at small town life The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner: Details the moral decay of the Old South The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner: Details the moral decay of the Old South Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston: Black life in a Black community Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston: Black life in a Black community

12. HARLEM MOVEMENT Southern gentle lady, Do not swoon. They've just hung a black man In the dark of the moon. They've hung a black man To the roadside tree In the dark of the moon For the world to see How Dixie protects Its white womanhood Southern gentle lady, Be good! Be good! Silhouette by Langston Hughes

13. FACTS ABOUT THE DECADE 106,521,537 people in the United States 106,521,537 people in the United States 2,132,000 unemployed, Unemployment 5.2% 2,132,000 unemployed, Unemployment 5.2% Life expectancy: Male 53.6, Female 54.6 Life expectancy: Male 53.6, Female 54.6 343.000 in military (down from 1,172,601 in 1919) 343.000 in military (down from 1,172,601 in 1919) Average annual earnings $1236; Teacher's salary $970 Average annual earnings $1236; Teacher's salary $970 Dow Jones High 100 Low 67 Dow Jones High 100 Low 67 Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the population. Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the population. Gangland crime included murder, swindles, racketeering Gangland crime included murder, swindles, racketeering It took 13 days to reach California from New York There were 387,000 miles of paved road. It took 13 days to reach California from New York There were 387,000 miles of paved road.

14. Flapper Culture and Style Flappers were women who rebelled against the fashion and social norms of the early 1900’s. Flappers were women who rebelled against the fashion and social norms of the early 1900’s. They married at a later age and drank and smoked in public They married at a later age and drank and smoked in public Flappers were known for their carefree lifestyles. Flappers were known for their carefree lifestyles.

15. Flapper Fashion Flappers dressed in shapeless dresses that came to the knee. Flappers dressed in shapeless dresses that came to the knee. Dresses were made to look “boy-like” Dresses were made to look “boy-like” Gender bending was common. Women would try to make themselves look more man-like. Gender bending was common. Women would try to make themselves look more man-like.

16. Who is F. Scott Fitzgerald? Born in 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Born in 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended Princeton University. He attended Princeton University. 1917 joined the army. 1917 joined the army. Met his wife Zelda. Met his wife Zelda. Published The Great Gatsby at 23 in 1925. Published The Great Gatsby at 23 in 1925. Regarded as the speaker of the Jazz Age. Regarded as the speaker of the Jazz Age. Drinking and wife’s schizophrenia Drinking and wife’s schizophrenia Died in 1940. Died in 1940.

17. WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM? It describes an attitude of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. It describes an attitude of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

18. SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL IMPROVEMENT Materialism achieved too quickly. Materialism achieved too quickly. Thus, lacking spiritual life/purpose. Thus, lacking spiritual life/purpose. Gatsby is a character that represents this DREAM. Gatsby is a character that represents this DREAM.

19. FAILURE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM Poverty Poverty Discrimination Discrimination Exploitation Exploitation Hypocrisy Hypocrisy Corruption Corruption suppression suppression

20. How is this developed? Through the 5 central characters Through the 5 central characters Through certain dominant images and symbols Through certain dominant images and symbols Through diction. Through diction.

21. Pre-reading: 1.Why are we still reading a book written in the 1920’s? What gives a book its longevity? 2.How was the 1920’s a reaction to WWI? 3.Some people think that having money leads to happiness. Do you agree? Why or why not? What are the advantages or disadvantages of being wealthy. 4.What is the "American Dream"? Where did it originate, and how has it changed over the centuries? 5.Have you ever wanted to relive a moment from your past, to redo it? Describe the situation. How and why would you change the past?

22. Review Eras Puritan/Age of Reason View of God: All Sovereign View of God: All Sovereign Man is depraved Man is depraved Predestination Predestination Pray for perfection Pray for perfection Theocracy Theocracy Man is good Man is good God in man God in man Romanticism/Realism/Modernism Man is divine Man is divine God in nature God in nature Flaws are part of the whole Flaws are part of the whole ------------------------- ------------------------- Irony Irony God is detached God is detached Fate unpredictable Fate unpredictable Nature is violent at times Nature is violent at times Modernism – disillusioned – no spiritual connection Modernism – disillusioned – no spiritual connection Lost generation Lost generation