Deeds Of Man In The 1920's

806 Words2 Pages

Maxwell Arthur

Lawrence

Junior English

9/28/16

The Deeds Of Man In The 1920’s

Great partying comes the loss of values and even the corruption of holidays. F. Scott Fitzgerald was a man who lived through a period of history filled with partying, this part of our American history is known as the roaring twenties. The roaring twenties was what seems to be the high before the crash, we had an economic boom and lived lavishly until the great depression. So far The Great Gatsby has portrayed the roaring twenties as a lavash ongoing party that is full of adultery, illicit drug use and loss of holidays and moral values. The plot of this story going from an adventure for Nick Carraway to a hell storm is the perfect depiction of the high and crash …show more content…

The casual nature of Tom of all characters was probably the most upsetting when it came to cheating on his wife, he was always sort of proud of it as well and that really showed his true character. “Come Nick I want you to meet my girl” (Fitzgerald 24). When Tom had said this to nick one could only feel true disgust, this was a fantastic depiction of the dirty deed of adultery and works perfectly with the corruption of morals and values in The Great Gatsby. The morals and sacred nature of marriage had been beaten down and forgotten during the 1920’s, for a man to casually say to his wife's cousin “I want you to meet my mistress” is really just a low insult to the sacred nature of family and marriage. Adultery seemed not to be the only practice that was corrupting the morals and values and it was also not highly …show more content…

Al Capone rained down with an iron fist during the 1920’s and was joined by many other mob bosses. In The Great Gatsby Mr.Gatsby seems to be a bootlegger, he shows many signs of the profession. There are rumors in The Great Gatsby that Gatsby himself is responsible for killing people. “I found out what your ‘drug stores’ were.” He turned to us and spoke rapidly. “He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong.” (Fitzgerald 133). Gatsby being caught was proof that this corruption was in fact a reality, to know that Gatsby was in fact bootlegging meant he did not make an honest wage. A person would think at this point Gatsby would eventually be

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Chicago And The Great Gatsby

    1571 Words  | 4 Pages

    “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it … It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.” (Fitzgerald 48). In chapter 4, Gatsby was riding into town with Nick, and then a police came, all Gatsby did was raised a little white paper and the cop apologized for stopping him. This isn’t only about corruption in 1920’s, but how he was above the law. He has the reputation of the president. He can get away with anything he wanted, he loves the power and the respect. When people say Gatsby it’s like he’s an imperial. The spreading rumors of Gatsby are horrific by the sense that, they were so out of this world you don’t know how people really believed them. Everybody had different point of views of Gatsby, he loves each one if the rumor didn’t contain the truth, or him being poor. His actions seem that all he wants people to do is think of him as an opulent man. Gatsby loves recognition. This makes him lose the idea of his past life which he hated. He strived to forget how he grew up, and where he came

    Read More

  • How Did F Scott Fitzgerald Use Sexism In The Great Gatsby

    640 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was socially acceptable for a man to cheat on his wife, but not acceptable for a wife to cheat on her husband; reinforcing stereotypical gender roles. This is shown in The Great Gatsby when Tom is angered by Daisy cheating on him with Gatsby, but he thinks that Daisy should be completely fine with him cheating on her. He is so angered by her cheating and his mistress death that he can be blamed as the cause of Gatsby’s death. In the 1920s, if a woman cheated on her husband it was considered scandalous, but it is expected for a man to cheat on his wife. The reader can clearly see the guilt on Daisy’s conscious when she first decides to be with Gatsby, this is shown because women were made to feel guilty in the 1920s. "I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife” (Fitzgerald 130). This clearly shows that there is a double standard between men and women about cheating. The“Mr. Nobody” in the quote is referring to Gatsby and his relationship with

    Read More

  • Use Of Figurative Language In The Great Gatsby

    1355 Words  | 3 Pages

    Considering that many authors use figurative language techniques in their writing to help convey a specific message; there is no wonder why Fitzgerald and Twain both use the tools for the purpose of criticising people in more of a low key fashion. Fitzgerald uses many different figurative language devices in The Great Gatsby, like similes. Because it is set in the roaring 20s, partying is a big element to the storyline. When Gatsby throws extravagant parties, Nick thinks to himself “...men and women came and went like moths among the whispering and the champagne and the stars.” (Fitzgerald 44). Nick refers to the social statuses of the young people in the 1920s. It proves that they really just want to party, get wasted, and that they absolutely

    Read More

  • Essay On The 1920's

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1920’s was a period of extremely economic growth and personal wealth. America was a striving nation and the American people had the potential to access products never manufactured before. Automobile were being made on an assembly line and were priced so that not just the rich had access to these vehicles, as well as, payment plans were made which gave the American people to purchase over time if they couldn't pay it all up front. Women during the First World War went to work in place of the men who went off to fight. When the men return the women did not give up their positions in the work force. Women being giving the responsibility outside the home gave them a more independent mindset, including the change of women's wardrobe, mainly in the shortening of their skirts.

    Read More

  • Gatsby Rough Draft

    1013 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Roaring Twenties was a time of excitement for the American people, with cities bustling with activity and a large community that appreciated Jazz, thus creating the title the “Jazz Age.” The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald takes place in this magnificent age characterized by Jazz and the popular new dance, the “Charleston.” Through the midst of all this new activity, we follow a character named Jay Gatsby through the eyes of the narrator, Nick Carraway. Fitzgerald’s themes of friendship and The American Dream is seen in The Great Gatsby through Nick and Jay’s companionship and Gatsby’s growth from being a simple farm boy to becoming a wealthy man.

    Read More

  • Responsibility of Gatsby’s Death

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the 1920s, the social scene was gradually changing because of the Prohibition Law; with the influence of prohibition, new waves of modern gangsters were created, and they were primarily involved in such crimes as “bootlegging” and “bank robbery.” The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, wrote the novel of The Great Gatsby, which focuses on the unachievable love affair between Gatsby and Daisy. In this novel, Jay Gatsby confronts death by getting shot on his back by flaming pistol triggered by Mr. Wilson. However, Mr. Wilson is not the only person who is responsible for Gatsby’s death; Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan are also accountable.

    Read More

  • Free Great Gatsby Essays: Deception

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    Our story unravels early on in The Great Gatsby, Nick's very wealthy cousin, Daisy, simply has it all: she is beautiful and graceful; her bank account is large; she's traveled and knows people no matter where she goes. Her husband, Tom Buchanan, is without a doubt very lucky to be with her; but there's a ripple in this perfect couple: he's cheating on her. Not only is Tom cheating on her, but he's cheating on her with someone of a far lesser class; which makes the reader question why he's with her in the first place. Daisy had a very good reputation among the elite; she had never done anything that would have embarrassed her. "They moved with a fast crowd, all of them young and rich and wild, but she came out with an absolutely perfect reputation" (82). This illustrates how well put together Daisy is, he has used her, and continues to use her not only for her wealth, but also for her firm social standing. She could, literally, make or break Tom depending merely on whether or not she stayed with him; of course he'd remain with her, she defined his social standing.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby: America in the 1920s

    2392 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... The environment surrounding the people that used to go to weekend parties and celebrations would be changed forever, affecting the lifestyle of everyone and eliminating the ability to hold these festivities. Real citizens lived a life much like the characters of the novel, and they were forced to completely reconsider their lives, financial decisions, and priorities. The issues faced by the novel’s characters were real-life tragedies so many Americans went through at the end of the Roaring Twenties. The Great Gatsby captured these aspects of what the people, places, and events of the 1920s were really like before the Great Depression – the beginning of the end – took hold over the entire country.

    Read More

  • The Pursuit of Wealth, Power, and Pleasure in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    684 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Self Control In The Great Gatsby

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book has many examples the characters portraying these negative attributes. Daisy looked desperately from one to the other. “you’re causing a row. Please have a little self-control.” (Fitzgerald Chapter 7 Pg. 129) In this quote Daisy just shows a glimpse of toms out of control anger and his carelessness on how to treat other people because of the money he has and how he things of himself vs others. Gatsby also shows his main weakness in this book many times which is love but none more clearly then in this quote. “your wife doesn’t love you,” said Gatsby. “she’s never loved you. She loves me. (Fitzgerald Chapter 7 Pg. 130) Gatsby really thinks that after all that time that he and daisy were apart that she was just going to drop the life she had made after he left an go and be with him. His love for a woman let his mind think of only one thing, to get her back, and let his eyes get fogged up with all this emotion and carelessness and he even took the blame for her fault when she ran over myrtle Wilson. He was deeply in love he was willing to put his life and name out on a limb for her and that ended up being Gatsby’s fall. He was not the only one that had faults Jordan baker as well was a liar and cheat as nick found out through out the book. “She was incurably dishonest” (Fitzgerald Chapter 3 Pg. 58) Nick had lost all hope in Jordan and when he finds out everything about her he drops her like a bad habit unlike Gatsby and needless to say all these characters were very wild and would get drunk unlike Nick who holds himself to a higher standard then most of the characters. “I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon” (Fitzgerald Chapter 2 Pg. 29) This quote really just shows the readers

    Read More

  • Morals and Ethics in The Great Gatsby

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • gatmoral Moral and Emotional Range of The Great Gatsby

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, there is a broad spectrum of moral and social views demonstrated by various characters.  At one end, is Tom, a man who attacks Gatsby's sense of propriety and legitimacy, while thinking nothing of running roughshod over the lives of those around him. A direct opposite of Tom's nature is Gatsby, who displays great generosity and caring, yet will stop at nothing to achieve his dream of running off with Daisy. The moral and emotional characteristics of Gastby and Tom are juxtaposed, Tom, the immoral character and Gastby, the moral character while the other characters' moral and emotional developments appear between these two.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby A Criticism Of The Twenties (grade 11 Essay)

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Roaring Twenties is considered to be a time of excessive celebration and immense corruption. The novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a criticism of American society and its values during this era of history. This criticism is first apparent in the people who go to Gatsby's parties. They get absurdly drunk, do not know who their host is and are rude by excessively gossiping about him. This commentary is also shown in the corruption of the police. Gatsby is able to pay off the police so that the activities going on at his home will go unnoticed and so that he may behave as he wishes. This criticism is finally shown in the corruption of friendship and love, the simple fact being that there is none. People use Gatsby and then throw him away. Fitzgerald's criticism of American society and its values during this time period is first shown in the behaviour of people at Gatsby's parties.

    Read More

  • Tom's Identity In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

    883 Words  | 2 Pages

    “"I found out what your drug-stores were." [Tom] turned to us and spoke rapidly. "[Gatsby] and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That's one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong"” (Fitzgerald 133). This proves how Tom is quick to pass judgment and how Tom thinks he is the only perfect person. Tom can drink alcohol during the prohibition, but it is wrong for Gatsby to produce liquor. It is obvious to infer that Tom has to put people down to feel good about himself. “"You're crazy!" [Tom] exploded. "I can't speak about what happened five years ago, because I didn't know Daisy then—and I'll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of that's a God damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now"” (Fitzgerald 131). Tom sees Daisy’s love as a possession; Tom sees marriage as a system of ownership, and he wants to be the only who can Daisy. Tom will let Daisy ride around with Gatsby, but not much else. In “The Great Gatsby”, Tom has shown his true personality, narcissistic, through these

    Read More

  • Decaying Morals in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1920’s were a time of social and technological change. After World War II, the Victorian values were disregarded, there was an increase in alcohol consumption, and the Modernist Era was brought about. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a perfect presentation of the decaying morals of the Roaring Twenties. Fitzgerald uses the characters in the novel--specifically the Buchanans, Jordan Baker, and Gatsby’s partygoers--to represent the theme of the moral decay of society.

    Read More

More about Deeds Of Man In The 1920's

Open Document