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

the novel, Gatsby was considered as a “New Money” person. He did not inherit any money from his ancestors like every other “Old Money” person did, but instead, he made his own business that lead to a great success and many wondered what exactly that business was. Some believed he sold alcohol to people, which could explain the amount of money he had since alcohol was requested so often.
During the 1920s, The Jazz Age became a period where people were more interested into music, dancing, and partying.

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

time.
The stock market in this time had been steady. Stocks were successful for people such as the bankers to even a citizen. The banks were making a lot of money from people who borrowed cash to buy stocks. Then the people that borrowed money to buy these stocks eventually sold it to other people for a higher price. Everyone was happy because they were making money and spending it on unnecessary items. They were so into themselves that they never realized that something bad could happen. Early in the year 1929, there was a prediction that the stock market would go into a recession and late in October the prediction came true. Throughout the novel Fitzgerald sets examples of people spending more money than needed prior to the stock market crashing. For example, all the parties Gatsby threw and the alcohol he bought must’ve cost a large amount of money.