To what extent does “The Great Gatsby” reflect the attitudes and values of real-life American society in the 1920s? ‘The Great Gatsby’ written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an extremely contextual novel. Many autobiographical elements are incorporated into the story as is Fitzgerald’s own criticism of the era. The fact that the author lived out the hedonistic existence written about in the novel, and experienced the effects of it, including the severe social gap between rich and poor, the rise in organised crime, racism and first wave feminism, gives a unique insight into the attitudes and values of real-life American society in the 1920s. As Arthur Mizener wrote in 1963, “Fitzgerald spoke for his own time and perhaps, in a broader sense, for all generations of Americans”.
Or do other cultures see it as a way for Americans to brag to the rest of the world that we are rich and prospering, along with being the most obese country in the world. Should our culture reward those on the road to premature heart attacks and being charged extra for two plane seats? Jason Fagone’s essay, In Gorging, Truth, investigates the veracity behind competitive eating champions and the game they play. Americans have become obsessed with being number one, at absolutely everything, despite how destructive and degrading it is to our society as a whole. A prime example of that is the world of competitive eating.
The Jazz Age Women, men, and parents before and after the jazz age all had thoughts, views, and differences about how they felt in this time period. The 1920s was the biggest part of the jazz age. It all started when every one knew that World War 1 “The war to end all wars” had finally ended (Hanson). This age really shot up when the war ended and the economy rose. After the war jobs raised and money flow was much greater.
Fame, success, and disappointments are all a part of the well- known Hollywood fantasy. The young hopeful arrives in town, takes a job in a hash wagon, and is soon discovered by a studio big-shot. It hardly ever happens, but one just can not kill the dream. According to Kevin Starr’s book Inventing the Dream, since Horax Wilcox decided to take his newly bought land and split it, Hollywood has obtained a title that is known worldwide. Wilcox’s land went from something small to a million dollar enterprise, therefore representing a dream that was accomplished.
The Evolution of the American Dream Before entering the Roaring Twenties, one of the interpretations of the American Dream was about equality amongst all people within society regardless of skin color or education. However, the Roaring Twenties brought forth the birth of mass culture, causing the American Dream to divert to something much different. With his novel The Great Gatsby (1925), F. Scott Fitzgerald reveals the transition of the American Dream from equality to money, which is prevalent through Nick Carraway’s reflection of advice from his father, Tom Buchanan’s feeling of superiority towards George Wilson, as well as Jay Gatsby’s constant wild parties. Racial inequality has always been present and was prevalent in the 1920s. Many felt as if an individual had colored skin, he or she was worth less than an individual who was not colored which brought conflicts with education and social rankings and caused more criticism amongst society.
They each represent wealth and also the consequences of it. He presents the Buchannan’s and shows that they are part of the one of the ‘old money’ families who have taken on the lifestyle of ‘The American Dream’ which in the novel is viewed differently by the characters. The American Dream symbolises the freedom and hope that America represented for all the migrants who came from
At the time of Willy’s failure the American Dream was the idea of social success and popularity along with huge wealth and consumerist goods such as a nice car, a top branded fridge, a tape recorder, etc. Owning these goods was a visible sign that indicated to the rest of America an individual’s success and wealth; the material goods represented your personal achievements. Also, the ownership of these items was the affirmation that you had succeeded and made something of your life. At the time the play was written it was harder than ever to climb the corporate ladder and this fuelled
The Great Gatsby and “Babylon Revisited” as the portraits of America in 1920s and the main role of the past in them. The novel Great Gatsby and the short story “Babylon Revisited”, both written by F.Scott Fitzgerald in , are stories about the generation of 1920s as a whole and the lives of the main characters in the reference to that time. The events in both literature works take place on both personal and major scale what makes the plots even more dramatic and the impact of the books on the readers even bigger, as personal troubles of the characters are supported with changes of the society as a whole. Person himself and the society being mutually linked to each other and being influenced by another factors, like political and finance stages of the country, create this exact thing which is called Time. So both the novel The Great Gatsby and the story “Babylon Revisited” are products of the time, products of 1920s.
In his era, the social idea of the gulf between the poor and the rich largely influenced him. Hence, he utilized what he perceived into his work and later attained fame and recognitions by the society. Consequently, Dickens’s best-selling novels soon palpably demonstrated the morals of the society. Advice: be more specific with the Dickens example Moreover, Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby evidently shows that the pop culture, which at the time, valued decadent parties and wild jazz music, represents the morals of the society. Fitzgerald portrayed that during the 1920’s, the vast amount of people valued gaining prestige and social status.
With a sense of entitlement, characters like Tom Buchanan and Daisy Buchanan talk down to other people. Tom Buchanan’s wealth has changed him to carry a superior arrogance over others. “Here is your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.” (Fitzgerald, 28) When Tom gives his money away he acts arrogant about it by giving away more than he needed. This not only shows his carelessness for money but that he means to act smug about it.