Essay On Materialism In The 1920s

Materialism corrupted the wealthy people of 1920s which led to the negative modification of the American Dream. As the tempo of city life quickened, more materials were desired, so it was all about being bigger and better. The result of this was the loss of the original American Dream, the pursuit of happiness, to the accumulation of possessions.
In the 1920s, ideas were sprouting and inventors were creating machines and materials to make living life more suitable in the city. People, commonly immigrants and the lower class, gravitated towards factories within cities looking for jobs, but the rich were also drawn in because of the production of materials. “Automobiles were relatively new technology,” and so they were booming among

the rich, and it wasn't necessarily because they were fast and convenient to navigate the city in, but because they were the best new toy to flaunt (The Demise of the 1920s...4). The trains around the city were just as accessible as the automobile, although it was cheaper and more affordable for the lower classes. The rich purchased anything that made it look like they owned a goldmine, and the automobile was a perfect accommodation. However, it wasn't the only material paraded. Clothing was originally made by the hands of the women in families, then in the 20th century that changed. Clothing began selling in stores and fashion was created among the wealthy. Looks became more important than personality, and accessories like necklaces, bracelets, and earrings were made bigger and shinier. Houses stated a lot about a person's wealth status as well. The higher class loved to embellish their homes with little pointless trophies to exhibit their success, which often came into role when the host or hostess held an exuberant party. The most popular parties had an excessive amount of alcohol, famous people, luxurious food, and a well known jazz band. (Fitzgerald) The host had sophisticated servants to wait on them and their guests at a flick of their finger. Correspondingly, the house master would impress other rich men and women by having their servants buy their clothes and run all their errands so they could use that time for leisure. (Fitzgerald) Leisure for the rich, besides bragging about their quantity of possessions, was participating in common sports, like tennis, country clubs, or polo and riding around in their personal yachts and hydroplanes.(Fitzgerald) From little to big, all popular materials had to be owned by the wealthy, for as long as it was trending.
Materialism drew Americans further away from the pursuit of happiness and closer to greed for money and possessions.

People would rather have what's new and trending, and then believe they were happy. Women had just earned their right to vote and felt “a new sense of freedom and acceptance,” and decided to express their freedom through these fashion trends. (Standards Focus...12) Flappers, as these women were called, were linked to the materialistic ideal, they “were known for their trendy “boyish” short bob hairstyles, tight mini dresses decorated with fringe, and bright red lipstick.” (Standards Focus...12). The media expanded to new inventions like the radio, and movies were adored by the people. This was another way materialism was influenced upon the people (Standards Focus...12). Young people of the ‘20s only knew that the fancier materials they owned, the more accepted they would feel in the upper class. Materialism not only kicked out the American Dream from within people, but also became part of their lifestyles, like back to the automobile which would become a necessity for the majority of people within America. Radios would eventually be owned by all people, and the next trending material would be next up. Americans would pick up the new trend and then throw it away as soon as died down. They “substituted their pursuit of happiness for a pursuit of wealth, believing that wealth would satisfy their dreams and lead them to happiness, however their lives were lost in the process instead.” (The Demise of the

1920s...4).
Not much has changed since this unfortunate modification of the American Dream. The goal of people today is to get through school to get a high paying job so they can buy and renovate that house they've always dreamt of, and keep a high class vehicle in their heated garage. People today go around talking of the lives celebrities live, saying “oh that would be the life, only if I could make that much money to afford…” instead of saying, “one day I hope to have a loving family to care for in a comfortable home where I can live out my days with my husband/wife.” The original American Dream, the pursuit of happiness, shouldn't have been lost to the simple desire for materials as it had been, because in the end it's happiness that is desired.