In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the story is set during the Jazz Age. During this time period, Prohibition, the nationwide ban on alcohol production, sale, and distribution, caused many people to be outraged. Because of this, despite the law, a large portion of the population continued to drink alcohol illegally. This led to the expansion of underground economies run by large crime syndicates. This era was characterized by widespread social change, as well as the rise of organized crime and illegal activities. In the novel, Fitzgerald uses historical context to depict corruption in the 1920s era. In Chapter Three of the novel, Nick attends one of Gatsby's extravagant parties. While at the party, it is evident that a large …show more content…
When he says “gin, liquors, and cordials,” this implies that there was a large variety of alcoholic drinks for the partygoers to enjoy. During the era of Prohibition, the fact that there was a well-stocked bar shows a disregard for the nationwide ban on alcohol production, sale, and distribution. The Prohibition Era gave rise to an underground economy centered around bootlegging, with speakeasies and illegal alcohol production being common. These speakeasies were secret venues where people could gather to socialize, drink, and enjoy entertainment, much like the atmosphere of Gatsby's parties. They were often hidden in basements, back rooms, or disguised as other businesses. Oftentimes, they were run by the mafia, which managed the production and distribution of alcohol. Despite being illegal, speakeasies often flourished as they were popular locations for those looking to consume alcohol during Prohibition. During this time, events similar to Gatsby's parties were commonplace, showing the widespread corruption that characterized the 1920s era. In Chapter Four, Gatsby and Nick have an encounter with a police
Gatsby and Greed In this day and age, money is a very important asset to have. One needs to have at least enough to live on, though great amounts are preferable. In The Great Gatsby, by Thomas F. Fitzgerald, having a large amount of money is not enough. It is also the way you acquire the money that matters.
Money and Corruption in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby During the time in our country's history called the roaring twenties, society had a new obsession, money. Just shortly after the great depression, people's focus now fell on wealth and success in the economic realm. Many Americans would stop at nothing to become rich and money was the new factor in separation of classes within society. Wealth was a direct reflection of how successful a person really was and now became what many people strived to be, to be rich. Wealth became the new stable in the "American dream" that people yearned and chased after all their lives.
Carraway describes the atmosphere as “spilled with prodigality” (Fitzgerald 44). Gatsby’s fills his parties with wasteful extravagances like alcohol, and his efforts toward love end up as futile. The people, instead of appreciating Gatsby, backhandedly gossip about his past as a German spy, and simply partake in the alcohol being served (Fitzgerald 48). Instead of representing the upper echelon’s of 1920s’ society, in contrast to the poor, the party-goers appear weak, superficial, and unworthy of such acclaim, especially when given their tendency to gossip. With this depiction of the partiers, Fitzgerald showcases the hollow nature of 1920s society, lacking in morality and
The excessive consumption of alcohol is also prevalent in both stories. In The Great Gatsby, the characters indulge in alcohol to escape from reality or to lower their inhibitions. “The bottle of whiskey--a second one--was now in constant demand by all present” (45; ch. 2). Alcohol is not only a major part of Gatsby’s notorious parties, but it is also how he illegally gained his massive fortune. He is also using the alcohol and parties to win the favor of the society of old money. However, because he can never achieve this, it only gives him false hope (Mangum 514). As said before, Gatsby can never enter the world of old money, even using alcohol as an
Hugh Hefner once said, “I looked back on the roaring Twenties, with its jazz, 'Great Gatsby' and the pre-Code films as a party I had somehow managed to miss.” The parties of the Roaring Twenties were used to symbolize wealth and power in a society that was focused more on materialism and gossip than the important things in life, like family, security, and friends. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays the characters of Tom and Daisy Buchanan as the epitome of the era. The reader sees these characters acting selfishly and trying to meddle with others’ lives. On the other hand, Nick Carraway, the narrator, acts more to help others and act honestly. Initially the reader sees Carraway’s views towards Jay Gatsby as negative as Gatsby’s actions are perceived as being like the Buchanan’s. As the novel moves forward, the reader notices a change in Carraway’s attitude towards Gatsby. Carraway sees Gatsby for whom he truly is, and that is a loving person who only became rich to win Daisy’s heart. But in this the reader also sees how corrupt and hurtful Gatsby’s actions were to the love of his life. Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy reveals that just as Gatsby’s dream of wooing Daisy is corrupted by illegalities and dishonesty, the “American Dream” of friendship and individualism has disintegrated into the simple pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasure.
Scott Fitzgerald was a writer who desired his readers to be able to hear, feel, and see his work. He made it his goal to be able to make readers think and keep asking questions using imagery and symbolism. The Great Gatsby was not just about the changes that occurred during the Jazz Age, but it was also about America’s corrupted society which was full of betrayal and money-hungry citizens. It was the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg that overlooked all the corruption that occurred throughout the Valley of Ashes. It was the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg that serves as a symbol of higher power who witnesses everything from betrayal to chaos in Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
Benjamin Franklin once said “Money has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness." This is arguably one of the most cliché quotes of all time. If money cannot provide happiness, then what exactly can it do? The characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan open a door to a world in which money was the sole motivation for their success and the only reason for their power. When the reader uses a Marxist critical lens during chapter four of F. Scott 's Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby, the social hierarchy reveals how Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan utilize the importance of money and social power to manipulate others in their lives.
This is conveyed to the reader when Baker is recognized by two girls at one of Gatsby’s parties that she attends with Nick Carraway and they proclaim “You don’t know who we are, but we met you here about a month ago” (Fitzgerald 43). Baker also declares her love for parties as she comments “And I like large parties, they’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy” (Fitzgerald 49). As the Gatsby era was during the time of Prohibition, the period of time that alcohol was made illegal, the alcohol at these parties was bootleg liquor.
Gatsby also displays examples of corruption through his acquisition of wealth. Gatsby's business dealings are not clear. He admits to his neighbor, Nick that he is "in the drug store business" (95). The drug store business during prohibition means that the person is a bootlegger. Bootlegging is a highly profitable business and bootleggers are commonly associates with gangsters who commit harsh and cruel deeds. The society Gatsby wants to be a part of is based on money and power, not faith and love.
Ex-President Jimmy Carter knows both the power and the limitations of money. He is also aware that the acquisition of money or material wealth is not a worthwhile goal. This was made clear in his speech to the American people when he stated: "Our great cities and our mighty buildings will avail us not if we lack spiritual strength to subdue mere objects to the higher purposes of humanity" (Harnsberger 14). In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, the author clearly illustrates that Jay Gatsby does not understand the limitations of the power of money. Gatsby believes that money can recreate the past, buy him happiness, and allow him to climb the social ladder in the prominent East Egg.
Several individuals mark Gatsby to be a man of great wealth, with a beautiful estate, and an abundance of friends. To illustrate, parties that are hosted at Gatsby’s house are magnificent, filled with professional entertainment, music and dancers, and guests varying from politicians to movie stars. Fitzgerald paints the picture of the parties at Gatsby’s house in great detail in this passage “The bar is in full swing and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside until the air is alive with chatter and laughter and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.” (Fitzgerald 44). It can be seen that these were extravagant parties filled with lust and alcohol. The evidence shows that no ordinary man would be throwing parties of this form, only a man with great wealth and resources would pull of such a feat. Furthermore, this was the prohibition era, which meant that alcohol and the consumption of alcohol was illegal. After this brief look into Gatsby’s life, one can understand why he was considered “great”, but to truly understand Gatsby’s greatness, one must look into his
In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald explores the idea of the American Dream as well as the portrayal of social classes. Fitzgerald carefully sets up his novel into distinct social groups but, in the end, each group has its own problems to contend with, leaving a powerful reminder of what a precarious place the world really is. By creating two distinct social classes ‘old money’ and ‘new money’, Fitzgerald sends strong messages about the elitism underlying and moral corruption society. The idea of the American dream is the ideal that opportunity is available to any American, allowing their highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. In the case of The Great Gatsby it centres on the attainment of wealth and status to reach certain positions in life,
In the novel The Great Gatsby, the 1920’s was a “throwaway culture, in which things (and people) are used and then abandoned” (Evans). This is true of the lives of the wealthy elite who ruled the East and West Eggs, causing the domination of materialistic thought. The substitution of money for integrity ultimately provided a way for corruption to take deep roots in the characters. The frivolous lives and relationships described by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby depict the emptiness of the shallow 1920’s era.
A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know” (Fitzgerald 107). Tom’s comment alludes to the fact that Gatsby gets his money through bootlegging, based on the sudden wealth he gained. If it was not for prohibition and the ability to make money fast, Jay Gatsby would not have the wealth and social status associated with his “Great Gatsby” title. The money gained from prohibition and direct access to alcohol from bootlegging, allows Jay Gatsby to throw extravagant parties. Gatsby invites Nick to one of his famous parties and upon entering the function Nick sees, “In the main hall a bar with a real brass rail was set up, and stocked with gins and liquors” (Fitzgerald 40).
How Does Literature Explore the Idea of Corruption and Delusion? Literature is much more than just words on paper, as it can explain thoughts and purpose beyond what the eye can see. It explores all different kinds of ideas. From love and identity to corruption and delusion, literature opens a new perspective on real struggles. Often, the reality of our desires falls short of our expectations, revealing the complex nature of fulfilment and the illusion of idealization, just like the ideas presented in The Great Gatsby, Nothing Gold Can Stay, and At An Inn.