Prohibition In The Great Gatsby

The Roaring Twenties was a time of great changes. The Jazz Age began after World War I and ended when the stock market crashed. The economy in that time was through the roof but Americans felt cheerful and carefree after WWI ending which caused people to party everywhere. During the war, women had to take over jobs men had while they fight but after the war, they became free which lead to the time of the flappers. During this time, there was a legal ban on making and selling alcohol which was the prohibition. All of these events tie into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby’s historical background. Both Gatsby and Nick Carraway joined the military during the War. But often, to forget the horrors of the War, people turned to partying and illegal matters to distract themselves from the events that scarred them. For example, The Prohibition. With the signing of the 18th amendment manufacturing and sales of any alcohol was illegal. People believed that with this amendment it could reduce the number of crimes, improve the overall health of American citizens, and create a noble society but, it had a different effect. Alcohol consumption and the number of crimes increased. In

After the women stopped having to work in factories, their right to vote was ratified, they finally decided to be free and celebrate. During this decade a new woman was created. Women smoked, danced, listened to jazz, and flaunted themselves. They were called flappers because of how they acted, their attitude and their clothing. Zelda Fitzgerald and her friend Sara Murphy, demonstrated the ideal flapper look. His wife’s ideal demonstration as a flapper became an inspiration for a theme of female characters in the novel. For example, Jordan Baker is an independent woman who admires and flaunts her life. Her character represents the new woman in America during this