Automobile Industry In The Great Gatsby

As we all may know, the 1920’s were not only known as the jazz age. There was music, moving, news everywhere you would turn, and exquisite parties. In any case, the one thing that truly developed to be prevailing was the automobile industry. The automobile industry influenced Fitzgerald when composing The Great Gatsby. In The Great Gatsby, composed by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the automobiles were symbolized as destruction, and status in the novel.

In the 1920’s, the automobile was used in many efficient ways that changed history. It replaced horse carriages; which was very convenient. Due to the fact that it did not only help people get around more efficiently, it also had a great sale in the automobile market. Garages and driveways were added

to house for the cars to be parked. Gas stations were created; which meant more money to the government. More jobs were being created because people could drive rather than taking the buses and or walking. Highways were created along with fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and repair shops for automobiles. When all that was constructed so were the opportunities for jobs.
Another symbol is destruction.

Destruction was shown in many forms. One form is death. Death was presented when a car killed Myrtle, “Michaelis and this man reached her first, but when they had torn open her shirtwaist, still damp with perspiration, they saw that her left breast was swinging loose like a flap, and there was no need to listen for the heart beneath. The mouth was wide open and ripped at the corners, as though she had choked a little in giving up the tremendous vitality she had stored for so long” (Fitzgerald 313). This death was brought upon by a car accident. Having the driver also known as Daisy, drive carefully could have prevented it. Yet she was being a reckless and careless driver in a rush, which only ended with the murder of

Myrtle.
By Fitzgerald having Gatsby owning such a car, is a symbol of wealth.

In the novel Gatsby’s car is described as, "A rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns" (Fitzgerald 68). Fitzgerald presented the novel to be sad and dark in some places while in some places colorful and full of life. In the dark parts of it, Fitzgerald showed Gatsby owning a bright yellow car. The bright color of the car showed power and wealth. Not only does it symbolize the wealth, it stands for a status of respect. When individuals see the car, they would notice that he is an important respected person. Which is why, when Fitzgerald illustrated Gatsby car as it was, it would be known that Gatsby was a respected fellow that contained much power. It may not seem much as to how one car can portray so much. However, it can go very far into showing people what other individuals are capable of. Also, the yellow of the car has the possibility of being a constant, obsessive thought of showing his money and expensive things to get the deep love for Daisy. Gatsby wanted to impress Daisy by having a modern, expensive and rich and beautiful

car.
Fitzgerald included automobiles in his writing since they were a rising popularity in the 20’s. Fitzgerald described in a way of showing Gatsby owning a very expensive and modern car. Fitzgerald also showed the extravagant parties that Gatsby threw. Between Gatsby’s wealth, elegant car and parties; it is obvious that Gatsby had a popular and respected status. In the 1920’s, Gatsby had a reputation, which mainly caused a stir in the media and people. He was known for the large amount of money, the elegant clothes and the expensive cars. That all reflected on his status. He was respected and seemed envied by those whom wanted to be him.
Fitzgerald was inspired by many things from the jazz age to construct his novel. He wrote a novel that changed how people see writing. He showed that in the 1920’s, automobiles were the raging trend. For Fitzgerald, the 1920’s were a time of prosperity along with being filled with life. He wanted to include all the modern amazing things from that time period. He rendered automobiles to symbols of adoration, destruction, wealth and status.