Central Idea Essay: What Does the Green Light Mean? Imagine spending weeks in this hole in the ground. Wealth, Class, and Society As further proof of Nicks morals, he declines Gatsbys reward for reuniting him with Daisy, a risky business deal that would provide Nick with a surplus of money, as he realizes its faults, and he retains his dignity. Romer, Christina. (5.117-118). Development Arrested. One of the rumors about Gatsby is that he is involved in a bootlegging pipeline of alcohol from Canada - this is a reference to a real-life scandal about one of the places where illegal alcohol was coming from! Great Gatsby", the American Dream plays a big role. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? All rights reserved. Here are ways to think about frequently assigned topics on this the theme of money and materialism. The main theme of the novel, however, encompasses a much larger, less romantic scope. To get you started, here is a sample of some of Nick's comments on money and the wealthy, though there are certainly more to be found: "Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reactionGatsby who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn." This pessimism is also reflected in the fates of Myrtle and George, who are both trying to increase their wealth and status in America, but end up dead by the end of the novel. When World War I ended in 1918, the generation of young Americans who had fought the war became intensely disillusioned, as the brutal carnage that they had just faced made the Victorian social morality of early-twentieth-century America seem like stuffy, empty hypocrisy. They even went to the extent of assimilating masculine ways and fashions into their lifestyles. . Literature and Its Times: Profiles of 300 Notable Literary Works and the Historical Events that Influenced Them. She is conversant with her possession of the charm that she uses maximally to maintain security for her lifestyles. This paper discusses these aspects as essential constituents of 1920s American culture as revealed in The Great Gatsby. Jordan Baker is the best example of this kind of woman. However, despite her airs, she matters very little to the "old money" crowd, as cruelly evidenced first when Tom breaks her nose with a "short deft movement" (2.126), and later, when Daisy chooses to run her over rather than get into a car accident. Socially progressive activists in both the Democratic and Republican parties united to pressure the government to ban alcohol, which was blamed for all kinds of other social ills like gambling and drug abuse. A+ Student Essay: The Automobile as a Symbol in The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby Background. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he displays the corrupt moral values of the society and culture, also their assumptions, Jay Gatz is alienated because of his class he is killed as a result of alienation. High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl. (7.103-106). Despite not being as wealthy as Tom and Daisy, his second cousin, they see him as enough of a peer to invite him to their home in Chapter 1. Indeed, Tom Buchanan believes that he needs additional power and influence despite being already powerful and blessed with a beautiful daughter and wife. Ironically enough, Nick resides in West Egg while Tom and Daisy reside in East Egg, this being analogous to where they find their moral values and happiness. The epigraph of the novel immediately marks money and materialism as a key theme of the bookthe listener is implored to "wear the gold hat" as a way to impress his lover. But even Gatsby, who makes an incredible amount of money in a short time, is not allowed access into the upper echelon of society, and loses everything in trying to climb that final, precarious rung of the ladder, as represented by Daisy. In 1921 to 1924, the American GDP grew from $ 69bilion to about 93 billion (Woods 213). However, the quest for contentment changed with time to become the search for wealth through excessive insatiability. Thus, possession of material wealth was important for the placement of people in a given social class and status. The novels narrator illustrates well the increased consumerist culture. In the opening pages, Nick establishes himself as someone who has had many advantages in lifea wealthy family and an Ivy League education to name just two. And, fascinatingly, this is the first moment of the day Daisy fully breaks down emotionallynot when she first sees Gatsby, not after their first long conversation, not even at the initial sight of the mansionbut at this extremely conspicuous display of wealth. The idea is straightforward: greater income . For instance, rumors exist that Gatsby is involved in the importation and ferrying of illegal liquor amid the existing ban. A person from any social background could, potentially, make a fortune, but the American aristocracyfamilies with old wealthscorned the newly rich industrialists and speculators. While Gatsby, Myrtle, and George all end up dead, Tom and Daisy get to skip town and avoid any consequences, despite their direct involvement. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Unsuccessful upon publication, the book is now considered a classic of American fiction and has often been . West Egg residents or new money (Fitzgerald and Bruccoli 54) are perceived by East Egg counterparts as upstart outsiders. In the novel, West Egg and its denizens represent the newly rich, while East Egg and its denizens, especially Daisy and Tom, represent the old aristocracy. Therefore, it is not surprising that the consumerist culture, which Scott Fitzgerald criticizes, had emerged. for a customized plan. We learn that the car is very large and both green on the . Want the complete lowdown on Jay Gatsby's rags-to-riches story? If you understand the history of Prohibition, you'll make better sense of some plot and character details inThe Great Gatsby: Police emptying out confiscated barrels of beer into the sewer. Fitzgerald and Bruccoli reckon, Tom would drift on forever seeking a little wistfully for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game (10). So how exactly does materialism reveal itself as a theme, how can it help us analyze the characters, and what are some common assignments surrounding this theme? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, presents a critical portrait of the American dream through its portrayal of the 1920s New York elite. To get a really good sense of why characters in the novel do what they do, it's useful to know the specific historical circumstances they are dealing with. They were careless people, Tom and Daisythey smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. In this phrase, Nick talks about Tom and George upon realizing that their wives are cheating on them and that they had a sort of terminal sickness. jazz music is a fixture of Gatsbys parties, and almost every song that Fitzgerald describes is a real life piece of music. Gatsby was Fitzgerald's third novel, and in writing it, he consciously set out to write something more artistic and creative than his previous two books. Historical Context Essay: The Great Gatsby and the Jazz Age, Literary Context Essay: Modernism & Realism in The Great Gatsby. While he can observe the social movements of the wealthy with razor precision, he always comes off as wry, detached, and perhaps even bitter. Joyce Moss and George Wilson. Daisy's decision illustrates how few choices many women had during that timespecifically, that marrying and having children was seen as the main role any woman, but especially a wealthy woman, should fulfill. Gatsby, for example, lives in a monstrously ornate mansion, wears a pink suit, drives a Rolls-Royce, and does not pick up on subtle social signals, such as the insincerity of the Sloanes invitation to lunch. In The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald documents these changes through an in-depth exploration of cultural changes such as the rise in consumerism, materialism, greed for wealth, and the culture of loosening morals in the 1920s American society. Just as Americans have given America meaning through their dreams for their own lives, Gatsby instills Daisy with a kind of idealized perfection that she neither deserves nor possesses. One woman is not just adequate. How does Tom find out about the affair between Gatsby and Daisy? Looking for other literary guides? Gatsby, on the other hand, whose recent wealth derives from criminal activity, has a sincere and loyal heart, remaining outside Daisys window until four in the morning in Chapter 7 simply to make sure that Tom does not hurt her. However, jumping up beyond her roots, using Tom's money, is ultimately unsustainableher husband finds out and threatens to move out west, and then of course she is killed by Daisy before they can make that move. After all, "People were not invitedthey went there" (3.7). American Culture in the Novel "The Great Gatsby". 20% A Comprehensive Guide. In The Great Gatsby, money is a huge motivator in the characters' relationships, motivations, and outcomes. She wasn't able to endure being at a disadvantage, and given this unwillingness I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young" (3.160). We've compiled a list of 15 must-have items for fans of The Great Gatbsy book and movie adaptations. Symbolically, the author denotes aristocrats as old money (Fitzgerald and Bruccoli 54). It took him about two and a half years to write and edit it, in between a failed play production, financial struggles, and a move to France. Only after amassing a large fortune does he feel able to make his move. . Daisy and Jordan are both old money socialites, while Myrtle is a working class woman married to a mechanic. . Scott Fitzgerald uses symbols sufficiently to give the novel a more vivid description of the American culture. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. In The Great Gatsby, money is central to the idea of the American Dream. The average student has to read dozens of books per year. America at this time experienced a cultural and lifestyle revolution. However, while Nick is wealthy, he is nowhere near as wealthy as the Buchanans or Gatsbyhe expresses surprise both that Tom is able to afford bringing ponies from Lake Forest ("It was hard to realize that a man in my own generation was wealthy enough to do that" (1.16), and that Gatsby was able to buy his own mansion ("But young men didn'tat least in my provincial inexperience I believed they didn'tdrift coolly out of nowhere and buy a palace on Long Island Sound" (3.88)), despite the fact they are all about 30 years old. 3: Growth of Empires to the Great Depression (1890-1930s). He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. No one has time to read them all, but its important to go over them at least briefly. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Unfortunately, with regard to The Great Gatsby, this dream dwindled, as materialism, consumerism, and the culture of loosening social morals became the order of the day in the 1920s America. Almost 1 in 4 people now had a car! Clearly, having old money sets you far apart from everyone else in the world of the novel. Excited to dive in? A Comprehensive Guide. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. In the era of writing The Great Gatsby, cultural conventions, which were perceived as out of date died to usher new ones from1920 to 1930s. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Jordan temporarily flouts expectations by ""[running] around the country," (1.134) playing golf, and not being in a hurry to marrya freedom that she is allowed because of her money, not in spite of it. "Her voice is full of money," he said suddenly. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. The Great Gatsby. Is Nick from The Great Gatsby a Trustworthy Narrator? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. This began during WWI as more women began to work to make up for the men fighting abroad, and as more professions opened up to them in the men's absence. Jordan is direct and critical all while being collected and intelligent; she defies the typical standard of the effervescent, submissive women of her time and instead represents a new breed of women, all standardized by the future of American prosperity and affluence. Woods, Clyde. But that knowledge doesn't dampen his pursuit of wealthif anything, it makes it even more desirable. Daisy herself is explicitly connected with money here, which allows the reader to see Gatsby's desire for her as desire for wealth, money, and status more generally. Fitzgerald illustrates the era of Prohibition by displaying Gatsbys flagrant misuse of the law, which only results in his own demise and failure as he perishes the same way he entered the city of New York with himself being his only true friend. Both Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby have military backgrounds. DuBois, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday. The ideals of love and marriage are profoundly strained in The Great Gatsby, a book that centers on two loveless marriages: the union between Tom and Daisy Buchanan and between George and Myrtle Wilson. Some of the rumors swirling around Gatsby point to how fresh the war was in everyone's mind (that he was a German spy during the war, or that he is related to Kaiser Wilhelm, who ruled Germany during the war). If you're aware of the newness and attraction of cars, you'll notice that inThe Great Gatsby: Death machine, or no, you have to admit that's a pretty cool-looking car. Furthermore, by the end of the novel she claims to be engaged, meaning that like Daisy, she's ultimately chosen to live within the lines society has given her. He is a self-made man (in all respects) and as such, is admirable. Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and first published in 1925, the setting of The Great Gatsby is an island, which is dominated by prosperous, wealthy, and poor communities of East Egg and West Egg. The Great Crash and the Onset of the Great Depression. Quarterly Journal of Economics 10.5 (1990): 597-625. The aim was to provide a vivid description of the rebelliousness that is associated with the youths of the time. Published in 1925, the book is not only an important work of English-language literature, it is an excellent period piece that displays the social, cultural, and political tensions of the 1920s . No one comes due to close personal friendship with Jay. Nick and Gatsby live in this community. Increased availability of products for purchasing in the free market led to the widening of the gaps between people of different social economic classes. She even breaks down in tears after Gatsby shows off his ridiculously expensive set of colored shirts, crying that she's "never seen such beautiful shirts" before (5.118). We will write a custom Term Paper on American Culture in the Novel The Great Gatsby specifically for you for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Mining the text for a character's attitude toward money can be a very helpful way to understand their motivations in the world of 1920s New York. Although the story is told with grace and beauty, its events are intended to be shocking. In the contemporary phenomenon of "Gatsby parties"festivities intended to capture the air of the titular Jay Gatsby's famously lavish, bacchanalian partiesjazz is de rigueur to evoke the 1920s. Building on the work of Miles Corak, Anders Bjrklund, Markus Jantti, and others, I proposed the "Great Gatsby Curve" in a speech in January 2012 . Another social development wasthe new flapper style. Nick laments, I stared at (Wilson) and then at Tom, who had made a parallel discovery less than an hour before-and it occurred to me that there was no difference between men (Fitzgerald and Bruccoli 158). Tom's restlessness is likely one motivator for his affairs, while Daisy is weighed down by the knowledge of those affairs. Print. . She was incurably dishonest. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in the Roaring Twenties, an era largely influenced by gaudiness, independence, and corruptness, which is immediately reflected in the central characters. Nick began his life in the Midwest and always regards it as his home and the place where he belongs, which is directly reflected in his unhappiness and ability to see the corruption of those who reside in the East; conversely, Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby all have roots in the Midwest, were drawn to the East, and remain there, blind to the horrors occurring in their daily lives. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Our introduction to Tom and Daisy immediately describes them as rich, bored, and privileged. Hardly anyone shows up to Gatsby's funeral since they were only attracted by his wealth and the parties, not the man himself. 2). The Decline of the American Dream in the 1920s. and events that occur in the novels plot. Why does Myrtle run out in front of Gatsbys car? Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The sheer number of the party participants implies that the 1920s American culture was characterized by indiscriminate spending in an increasing number of products that were availed for sale by the rising manufacturing capacity of the nation. This claim suggests that 1920s were marked by the coming out of an impatient society that was led by the adolescents who opposed honorable margins that were constant in the previous age group. Ironically, Gatsbys good qualities (loyalty and love) lead to his death, as he takes the blame for killing Myrtle rather than letting Daisy be punished, and the Buchanans bad qualities (fickleness and selfishness) allow them to remove themselves from the tragedy not only physically but psychologically. By such suggestions that Gatsby was a product of his culture, Nick is able to praise Gatsby for the integrity of his belief . He sarcastically describes the "consoling proximity of millionaires" on West Egg and wryly observes Tom and Daisy's restless entitlement on East Egg. The 1920s marked a key time of change in the social status of women as so called flappers defied the traditional norms for conduct and dress, and women finally received the right to vote (The Great Gatsby Novels 74). Entire Document, Comparison: Great Gatsby and the American Dream, The Great Gatsby and the 'American Dream', The Great Gatsby: The Fall of the American Dream, Contradictions in the culture of the period, Flappers and self-made men as new people of the period, Prohibition of alcohol and Gatsby as a bootlegger, The price for reaching the American Dream, How the novel mirrors the corrupt mindset of the Roaring Twenties. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. In the final chapter, Nick calls Tom and Daisy careless people who smashed up things and . . student. We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. American Culture in the Novel "The Great Gatsby". See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Gatsbyis now seen as both a product of and a record of the 1920s. This combination of restlessness and resentment puts them on the path to the tragedy at the end of the book. 264-276. What Makes the great Gatsby by F.S Fitzgerald Great? Journal of Education 1.2(2012): 73-78. The smaller European powers were forced into the war as well, based on whatever alliances they had made in the past. As such, theGreat Gatsby era is theperiod in 20th century U.S. history nicknamed both the Roaring 20s and the "Jazz Age." Women were granted the right to participate in voting. In this sense, better economic fortunes in America, together with the rising mass production in the 1920s normalized the culture of consumption so that products that were consumed by the wealthy members of the society became now affordable to persons in the lower social economic classes. August 12, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-culture-in-the-novel-the-great-gatsby/. Purchasing Fitzgerald captured this period of rapid post-war growth and the frenzy surrounding the era with insightful examples of the eleterious effects of superficial behavior. As Caraway describes the nature of Gatsbys parties, it is clear that even though Americans enjoyed prosperity that was associated with the jazz age, they also feared its social implications. must. Gale Virtual Reference Library. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. "American Culture in the Novel "The Great Gatsby"." Many of them cannot proactively grasp the concept of working hard to build their material wealth base. The clash between old money and new money manifests itself in the novels symbolic geography: East Egg represents the established aristocracy, West Egg the self-made rich. Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). The journey to reaching a fulfilling life and the American Dream came with struggles, and many people resorted to crime and dishonest behavior as a way to circumvent their actual problems. IvyPanda, 12 Aug. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/american-culture-in-the-novel-the-great-gatsby/. All these developments illustrated increased consumer spending as noted by Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby. Gatsbys failure to attain the American Dream suggests the Dream is both an unattainable and unwise goal. Ed. His assumption of Gatsby's illegal activities notwithstanding, Nick has the same expectations of integrity from Gatsby and from other men as he does from himself. She thinks that she deserves to be with Tom whose money, influence, and power provide answers to her (Mytle) problems of poverty. Unlike Jordan, Mytle possesses little material items. It would help your argument to talk about the sudden skyrocketing prevalence of cars on the road in the 1920s, connecting them to increased danger, status symbol consumerism, and modern life. Nick and Gatsby, both of whom fought in World War I, exhibit the newfound cosmopolitanism and cynicism that resulted from the war. Even though he wasn't able to inherit any part of Cody's fortune, he used what he learned of wealthy society to first charm Daisy before shipping out to WWI. These gardeners cleaned the leftovers of the products that had been consumed during Gatsbys parties that were dominated by haphazard expenses. However, even though Gatsby succeeds in acquiring wealth, he is never accepted by the upper class. Myrtle mentions this with regard to her husband, George, whom she mistook for someone of better breeding and hence greater prospects: I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasnt fit to lick my shoe. Similarly, Gatsbys pursuit of Daisy is bound up with class. In Nicks mind, the ability to create meaningful symbols constitutes a central component of the American dream, as early Americans invested their new nation with their own ideals and values. August 12, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-culture-in-the-novel-the-great-gatsby/. In both cases, the marriages seem to be unions of convenience or advantage than actual love. The jazz age was born during the 1920s era in the American history. This speaks to her materialism and how, in her world, a certain amount of wealth is a barrier to entry for a relationship (friendship or more). . "Al Capone Does My Shirts a Novel by Gennifer Choldenko, Hobbes Materialist Nature of Philosophical Principles. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. As Nick continues to realize, although the East appears to glitter with fascinating opportunities and excitement, it lacks the strong moral values encompassed in those like himself from the Midwest. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. After all, Tom's money secures her fancy apartment and allows her to lord it over her guests and play at sophistication, even while Nick looks down his nose at her. Jews also served in the American military during World War I in very high numbers. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Cultural Impact of The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, written in 1925, depicts a portion of Nick Carraway's life characterized by the time he is influenced by the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his extensive pursuit of his former flame and Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan. In other words, while he opens the book with his father's advice to remember "all the advantages [he's] had," Nick seems to have a chip on his shoulder about still not being in the highest tier of the wealthy class. Gatsbys parties have a speakeasy feel in that people from different backgrounds and genders freely mix and mingle. The Great Gatsby reflects the trends of the 1920's through the transformation of James Gatz, the differences between the houses in West Egg and East Egg, and the unflattering picture of the era. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Show how each instance reveals Tom or Daisy's carelessness, and how those instances thus foreshadow the bigger tragedyMyrtle's death at Daisy's hands, followed by Tom's manipulation of George to kill Gatsby. In the novel you can see what happened to it during the 1920s. In the 1920s depicted in the novel, however, easy money and relaxed social values have corrupted this dream, especially on the East Coast. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. In the monied world of The Great Gatsby, class influences all aspects of life, and especially love. What Does The Great Gatsbys Ending Mean? Though all of its action takes place over a mere few months during the summer of 1922 and is set in a circumscribed . Here, in the aftermath of the novel's carnage, Nick observes that while Myrtle, George, and Gatsby have all died, Tom and Daisy are not punished at all for their recklessness, they can simply retreat "back into their money or their vast carelessness and let other people clean up the mess." Detroit: Gale, 1997. 146-152. This term described women who would wear much less restricting clothing and go out drinking and dancing, which at the time was a huge violation of typical social norms.