What Does The Jazz Age Mean In The Great Gatsby

The Jazz Age and The Great Gatsby

Coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald himself, the Jazz Age was the period that The Great Gatsby was set in. Synonymous to the name “The Roaring Twenties”, the Jazz Age was named for the prevalence of jazz music rather than the wealth of the time (Newton-Matza, 149). The Jazz Age was an age of prosperity, prohibition, dancing, parties, and robust, lively music. The music that was born during this era was entertaining, refreshing , and it reflected the feelings of the decade as a whole. Through the demonstration of Jazz Age customs and implicit judgement through the eyes of Nick Carraway, this novel critiques the values of the Jazz Age.

The Jazz Age is an age known for its spontaneous parties and improvisational musical

This meaning of jazz seems obvious, considering jazz is a genre of music, but jazz has several other applications as previously explained. The parties in the Great Gatsby are filled with music whether it be to accompany the quick dancing or set a tone for the mood of the party. “Girls were putting their heads on men’s shoulders in a puppyish, convivial way, girls were swooning backward playfully into men’s arms, even into groups, knowing that some one would arrest their fall,” after a new song, “Jazz History of the World” had finished playing. The music quickly affected the mood of the party, creating a freer atmosphere for his guests. The effect of the music took resemblance to that of alcohol, causing Nick Carraway to be both fascinated and

On “January 16, 1920, the United States went dry; breweries, distilleries, and saloons were forced to close their doors,” as the Jazz Age began along with the Prohibition Era (Back to Hypertext History). The amendment was pushed for by women who associated alcohol with domestic violence, and it was supported by Congress as a war measure, in order to prioritize the use of grain for making bread rather than brewing alcoholic beverages (Back to Hypertext History). However, the 18th amendment that was proposed to ban alcohol failed miserably. “Smuggling and bootlegging were widespread” and because it was costly, “by 1925, half a dozen states, including New York, passed laws banning local police from investigating violations,” (Back to Hypertext History). The fact that The Great Gatsby takes place during the time-period allows alcohol to be a focal point at each of Gatsby’s outrageous parties. Gatsby’s mansion is filled with alcohol and “cocktails permeate the garden outside,” at his roaring parties (Gatsby, 40). However, Nick Carraway was never one to frequently partake in drinking. Before meeting Myrtle, he had “been drunk just twice in [his] life” (Gatsby, 28), and the second time was at a small party that was thrown that day. Nick’s drinking habits were contradictory to those of the general population, especially in New York,