In Myrtle's eyes, money is an escape from life with her husband in the valley of ashes, something that brings status, and something that buys class. Additionally, the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, which banned the sale of alcohol, created a thriving underworld designed to satisfy the massive demand for bootleg liquor among rich and poor alike. 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! They have an immense belief in the capacity of money to make them look superior to other people who are short of it. Any time someone isdrinking alcohol in the novel, they are doing something illegal, and are clearly in the know about how to get this banned substance. #3: How their final outcome is shaped by their wealth status and what that says about their place in the world. A close look at these two distinct societies gives an image of a future fictional American society culture, which is free from corruption and largely not driven by individualism. 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. 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. The Buchanans exemplify this stereotype when, at the end of the novel, they simply move to a new house far away rather than condescend to attend Gatsbys funeral. Characters such as George and Toms wives exemplify the rebellion that is characterized by dwindling moral standards. If you analyze a character through this theme, make sure to explain: #2: How money/materialism drives their choices in the novel. (See our article on this novel's publication and reception history for more.). The concept of the American dream as developed in chapter nine of The Great Gatsby revolves around the concepts of moral values that have been used to pursue happiness. At the same time, the novel itself critiques the notion of the American Dream. . You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. He gets wrapped up in Gatsby's dreams and his cousin's difficult marriage, all while learning about the pitfalls of wealth and the truth of the American dream. "There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. A prime example of such an immoral character is Meyer Wolfsheim who, as Gatsby nonchalantly stated, fixed the World Series back in 1919 (Fitzgerald 73); the character of Wolfsheim acts as a representation of the man who was actually responsible for the crime, Arnold Rothstein. However, even though Gatsby succeeds in acquiring wealth, he is never accepted by the upper class. This desire of Americans to reach such a high social status and level of attainment was no better displayed through the ability that Gatsby possessed as he faithfully stuck to the conception of himself he desired to be and eventually obtained it. The Great Gatsby Novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Passing' by Nella Larsen Literature Analysis, The Story of an Hour' and 'The Storm' - Women in Literature, The Metaphor of the Storm in Kate Chopins Story, "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" a Short Story by Richard Wright, Tracy Kidders Novel Strength in What Remains. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Together with the examples of deceit under Prohibition, Fitzgeralds novel was inspired by the corruption of certain Americans during the 1920s as reflected in the actions and deceit used by the major characters he created. 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. After all, if even wealth on the scale of Gatsby's can't buy you entry into America's highest social class, what can? Ask below and we'll reply! Another post-WWI developmentwas the Harlem Renaissance, acultural, social, and artistic flowering among African Americans that took place in Harlem, NY, during the 1920s. "American Culture in the Novel "The Great Gatsby"." (1.4), "My own house was an eye-sore, but it was a small eye-sore, and it had been overlooked, so I had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbor's lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionairesall for eighty dollars a month. You can thus compare three very different women's experiences to explore how moneyor a lack thereofseems to change the possibilities in a woman's life in early 1920s America. Almost 1 in 4 people now had a car! (See our brief biography of Fitzgerald to learn more.). Gatsby and his associates such as Wolfsheim engage in illegal dealings (Silver Para. Dont have an account? "They had spent a year in France, for no particular reason, and then drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together." Excited to dive in? 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. These shared ideals include a notion of freedom that ensures all Americans the possibility of upward social mobility, as long as they work for it. In this context, Gatsby is a representation of a fallen American dream due to the rising immorality that characterizes the culture of the 1920s America. IvyPanda. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. $24.99 In 1921 to 1924, the American GDP grew from $ 69bilion to about 93 billion (Woods 213). So the American Dream, which in the first half of the book seems attainable based on Gatsby's wealth and success, reveals itself to be a hollow goal. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. 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. New York, NY: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2000. The Great Gatsby takes place during a time that's now known as the Jazz Age or the Roaring 20s. Jordan Baker is the best example of this kind of woman. 22 Apr. F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby, written in 1925, depicts a portion of Nick Carraways life characterized by the time he is influenced by the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his extensive pursuit of his former flame and Nicks cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Car ownership increased mobility between cities and outer suburban areas, which enabled the wealthy to work in one place but live in another. Societally, divorce became more common. What the old aristocracy possesses in taste, however, it seems to lack in heart, as the East Eggers prove themselves careless, inconsiderate bullies who are so used to moneys ability to ease their minds that they never worry about hurting others. 1. Gatsby, in the summer months, was known far and wide for the extravagant parties he threw in which "men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars." During the weekend, people flocked to his house for his parties, as well as to use his . The theme of The Great Gatsby is decadence and the decline of society. At the beginning of the novel they move to fashionable East Egg, after moving around between "wherever people played polo and were rich together," and are able to very quickly pick up and leave at the end of the book after the murders, thanks to the protection their money provides (1.17). Let's explore. Detroit: Gale, 2007. (one code per order). 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. In short, money both drives the plot and explains many of the characters' motivations and limitations. 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. The wealthiest characters own cars and use them to commute between Manhattanand Long Island. August 12, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-culture-in-the-novel-the-great-gatsby/. Therefore, it is not surprising that the consumerist culture, which Scott Fitzgerald criticizes, had emerged. This happened because of advances in mass production due to the assembly line, and because of rising incomes due to the economic boom. From new money to consumer culture to lavish parties, F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel depicted the heyday of the 1920sand foreshadowed the doom that would follow. August 12, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-culture-in-the-novel-the-great-gatsby/. She has it exceptionally clear in her mind that her success is not honestly acquired, and that it can depart from her any time. We utilize security vendors that protect and 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. When his dream crumbles, all that is left for Gatsby to do is die; all Nick can do is move back to Minnesota, where American values have not decayed. Furthermore, the rest of that quote explicitly describes Daisy as "High in a white palace, the King's daughter, the golden girl" (7.106). The aim was to provide a vivid description of the rebelliousness that is associated with the youths of the time. We will dig into all things money here in this guide. In contrast, the old aristocracy possesses grace, taste, subtlety, and elegance, epitomized by the Buchanans tasteful home and the flowing white dresses of Daisy and Jordan Baker. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted highershirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange with monograms of Indian blue. One of the major topics explored in The Great Gatsby is the sociology of wealth, specifically, how the newly minted millionaires of the 1920s differ from and relate to the old aristocracy of the countrys richest families. This situation resulted in corruption of the ideal American dream. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, 'f20994d3-fd87-4c1e-988d-22ad8d920c1a', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); This is an interesting prompt, since you have to comb through passages of Nick's narration to find his comments about money, and then consider what they could mean, given that he comes from money himself. Furthermore, she banks on her place as a wealthy woman to avoid any major scrutiny, despite her "incurable dishonesty": "Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever shrewd men and now I saw that this was because she felt safer on a plane where any divergence from a code would be thought impossible. Here are ways to think about frequently assigned topics on this the theme of money and materialism. Want 100 or more? 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. 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. A Comprehensive Guide. 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). Flappers emerged in 1920s. Please wait while we process your payment. . However, that was my fault, for he was one of those who used to sneer most bitterly at Gatsby on the courage of Gatsby's liquor and I should have known better than to call him" (9.69). Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Like his fellow modernists, Fitzgerald was deeply critical of the wealth and capitalist success ushered in by the post-war boom, considering the new obsession with money and status shallow. 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. On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city, between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains. 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. Historically speaking, with influential leaders of temperance movements that believed in the dangers of alcohol and its ability to disrupt families, the Volstead Act was put into effect outlawing the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors (The Great Gatsby Literature 147). I wasnt actually in love, Nick recalls, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity. Such tender curiosity may be the closest thing to love in the entire novel. And furthermore, Daisy's willingness to stay with Tom despite his affairs underscores another aspect of women's roles during the 1920s: that divorce was still very uncommon and controversial. She indeed admires East Eggs people with mega envy together with intense animosity. In real life, this represents aristocracy, which took a long time to establish. No one has time to read them all, but its important to go over them at least briefly. Russian allies France and England were pulled in to defend Russia. Caroline Brown . 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. Economically, there was an increase in working women. Although she is a famous player of golf, she can do anything on the loose to have her right always. The second nickname refers to this period's changing social norms and daring artistic movements. It's not enough to "bounce high" for someone, to win them over with your charm. and events that occur in the novels plot. Print. While he can observe the social movements of the wealthy with razor precision, he always comes off as wry, detached, and perhaps even bitter. 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. Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. 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). My personal culture tree possesses a diverse cultural background as the 'roots', that formed the core and branch values, the values seemed to point towards unity between first nations people and Anglo-Saxon people in Australia since I . Learn more about how The Great Gatsby was received when it first came out, and also read about the life ofits author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Despite society's changing nature, the world still hasn't accepted Jordan as an independent person. Related to money and class, the fact that both Gatsby and the Wilsons strive to improve their positions in American society, only to end up dead, also suggests that the American Dream -- and specifically its hollowness -- is a key theme in the book as well. 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. Summary. He tells Tom Buchanan after finding out about Myrtle's affair that he plans to move her West, but he "[needs] money pretty bad" in order to make the move (7.146). $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Jordan is incurably dishonest. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Suppose you wanted to analyze the importance of cars in The Great Gatsby. And on Mondays eight servants including an extra gardener toiled all day with mops and scrubbing-brushes and hammers and garden-shears, repairing the ravages of the night before." Colonizers arrived in the US with similar dreams of a healthier life for all people. Although her husband is immensely loyal to her, she possesses a strong desire to have everything else. Fitzgerald portrays the 1920s as an era of decayed social and moral values, evidenced in its overarching cynicism, greed, and empty pursuit of pleasure. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. In this context, The Great Gatsby, which is a novel about the 1920s lifestyles, portrays the American culture as one that eroded the traditional morals and social norms such as denouncing the moral responsibility to remain faithful in marriage. The survivors of the war - both the veterans and those who came of age during the fighting - were called the Lost Generation. Only after amassing a large fortune does he feel able to make his move. For some time now I have been thinking about the validity or vulnerability of a certain set of assumptions conventionally accepted among literary historians and critics and circulated as "knowledge." This knowledge holds that traditional, canonical American literature is free of, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Daisy is coercive and manipulative. For the first three years, the U.S. remained neutral, instead profiteering from the war by selling supplies toboth sides of the conflict. The rising immorality also explains the cultures of loosening morals in The Great Gatsby. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. But, in 1917, the U.S. was pulled into the fighting, fearing an alliance between Germany and Mexico. https://ivypanda.com/essays/american-culture-in-the-novel-the-great-gatsby/, IvyPanda. SparkNotes PLUS On the surface, The Great Gatsby is a story of the thwarted love between a man and a woman. How about getting full access immediately? Daisy representing money also suggests money is as alluring and desirableor even more sothan Daisy herself. 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. 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. 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). Similar to other characters in The Great Gatsby, she has an intense greed for money (Leader 13). 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). 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. on 50-99 accounts. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. 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.