...The American Dream is the aspiration to obtain wealth, status and power based on the desire of self-betterment through self-reliance and accomplishment. F Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, is an effective critique on the corruption that surrounds the American Dream. It is also a commentary on the warped view of Western hedonism and idealized lifestyles. The dream is portrayed strongly through the characters, depicting undignified ways to obtain wealth, the amoral social interactions and the illusion of affection and false fellowship. Thus exposing the unscrupulousness, self-absorption and disillusionment that lie at the wake of the American Dream. Fitzgerald critiques on the ideal of ‘self-made’ men (financially) and how through sheer desperation, men stray from conformity and followed a deviated path in order to reach wealth. The American Dream is the belief that regardless of one’s socio-economic background, an individual could still reach financial triumph through hard work, education and drive-which has been the belief of the American society. According to American sociologist Robert K. Merton, American society has generated common desires and pressures for material possession-which is how success was measured- those who fail to succeed by conformity or valid means, resort to devious acts to do so. Fitzgerald comments on this aspect of his society through the portrayal of Gatsby in the novel; who employed unorthodox ways of obtaining wealth in order to gain his incommunicable...
Words: 1195 - Pages: 5
...The Roaring Twenties It was the Bee’s Knees to feel the Heebie-Jeebies while living young and free as a sensual Dumb Dora through the radical Roaring Twenties, an era that was absolutely unforgettable in American history! Organized doctrines advocating political, social, and all other rights of women equivalent to those of men, made the ideas of feminism possible. This was a new term that came about during the Progressive Era, a term that caused women to express their self-worth by capturing the world by it’s tail and launching a revolutionary era that lasted three decades; as Frances Willard said, “a wider freedom is coming to the women of America” (Textbook)… Within the first few years of the 1920s, the new culture that the generation had created was already set into motion. The youth no longer had the desire to act or dress like the older generation, they wanted something different. Through the fashion, entertainment and beauty industries women worked up the courage to reject the stuffy ways of the Victorianism lifestyle, and simply transition to a more advanced wild life of the conspicuous Flappers. In the late eighteenth century, the Victorian era was a widely known style that was commonly related to morals and structures based off of Christianity. Family and economic life for women was outrageously boring; a typical day for a woman would look like cleaning, gardening, plus taking care and cooking for her household. Women weren’t allowed to have real jobs...
Words: 1454 - Pages: 6
...The Age of The Great Gatsby In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald tells a legendary love story from the perspective of the narrator named Nick. The reader sees and hears about all the crazy parties, love stories, breakups and much, much more that all seem to stem from a dynamic character named Jay Gatsby. The story takes place in a promiscuous and rebellious period called the roaring twenties, the time period right before the great depression, and to make it worst in the city that never sleeps. The roaring twenties period is the backbone of this story, characters in the novel directly correlate with the illegal, rebellious, and careless behaviors that are seen in the twenties. The prohibition caused lots of problems in this time period when it came to crime and binge drinking. First It is important to understand the social, political and economic effects of prohibition. In 1917 the Eighteenth Amendment was passed and stated that you couldn’t make, sell or transport any alcohol. The prohibitionist movement had a wide variety of supporters, including: Women, Church’s, employers and politicians. In the 1928 Presidential campaign Herbert Hoover won by calling prohibition “a great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and farreaching in purpose; " this is interesting because it shows to the public that he is in favor of prohibition, but by calling it an experiment it shows that he may have some concerns about it .It definitely was an experiment...
Words: 1569 - Pages: 7
..."The Great Gatsby" is based on a 1925 novel of the same title, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Given what you have read in the textbook, does the film effectively portray life in the 1920s? Why or why not? The Great Gatsby was a real journey back into the 1920’s during the times of the” Roaring Twenties. The movie was an extremely accurate portrayal of life in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby showed the economic prosperity in the urban communities among the rich and wealthy. The setting of the movies décor was very accurate from the dapper dressing of the men in pinstripes suits, silk shirts, and pinstripe suits for the men. The women in the Great Gatsby wore the sleek colorful dresses and skirts along with dazzling hair and head accessories. The Great Gatsby showed a scene that showed the backdrop of the ballroom for the parties that was the best example of the 1920s. The Great Gatsby ballroom was the size of three or four houses together with the multiple levels opening up to grandiose dancing areas. The ceiling was glittering with sparkling lights that looked like white bubbles, lights, ornaments, exotic chandeliers, and beautiful greenery. The Great Gatsby dancing, singing and music was right out the of the 1920s jazz age. The movie soundtrack was a trip into the pass with all the Jazz Greats playing their songs from the 1920’s from Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dobbs and King Oliver and many other jazz musicians. The Great Gatsby movie set was the perfect example of the real life...
Words: 779 - Pages: 4
...critic Bevis Hillier in her book Art Deco of the 20s and 30s (1968). History Art Deco owed something to several of the major art styles of the early 20th century. These formative influences include the geometric forms of Cubism (note: Art Deco has been called "Cubism Tamed"), the machine-style forms of Constructivism and Futurism, and the unifying approach of Art Nouveau. Its highly intense colours may have stemmed from Parisian Fauvism. Art Deco borrowed also from Aztec and Egyptian art, as well as from Classical Antiquity. Unlike its earlier counterpart Art Nouveau, however, Art Deco had no philosophical basis - it was purely decorative. The Art Deco style, adopted by architects and designers around the world, spanned the "Roaring Twenties", the Great Depression of the early 1930s, and the years leading up to the Second World War. It suffered a decline in popularity during the late 30s and early 40s, when it began to be seen as too gaudy and ostentatious for wartime austerity, after which it quickly fell out of fashion. The first resurgence of interest in Art Deco occurred in the 1960s - coincident with the movement's affect on Pop Art - and then again in the 1980s, in line with growing interest in graphic design. The style appeared in a number of jewellery and fashion...
Words: 309 - Pages: 2
... In The Great Gatsby we see a story of misunderstood love and dreams. The American Dream in the 1920’s was different than it is now. In our time our Country’s Dream is a set of ideals based off of general rights, liberty, opportunity, and equality for all people— in the novel we see a different story. We find the American Dream in the 20’s is full of glam, money, lust, men and women. When people become spoiled it’s often because a society is misled by money and greed and with that you get entitled and horrid men and women. Looking at the characters in the movie I’m not impressed with that generation, the man and women are liars and cheaters. For example Tom, he is an arrogant hypocritical man who is sexist, racist, and treats everybody like they don’t deserve to be in his presence. He talks down to those who have much less than him and controls everything in his path. Tom acts like it is okay to have an affair with Myrtle but gets very upset when he finds out about Jay Gatsby. Although this book mainly focuses on wealth and class, it also shows desperation and poverty. “The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour.” (Pg. 28) “Hello, Wilson, old man, said Tom, slapping him jovially on the shoulder. How’s business? I can’t complain, answered Wilson unconvincingly. When are you going to sell me that car? Next week;...
Words: 505 - Pages: 3
...Villains are extremely wealthy as it is said that they spend all of their fortune funding their evil plans, which are often extremely expensive, yet it is assumed that they are isolated and excluded from society, probably because of their devilishness or due to other characteristics such as their physical appearance. Is the character of Tom Buchanan a rich social outcast? On the one hand, Tom Buchanan is a terribly wealthy person, an aspect depicted by Carraway since the first chapter of the novel, through “even in college his freedom of money was a matter of reproach”, and owner of such luxurious possessions like “a cheerful red and white Georgian colonial mansion, overlooking the bay” and “polo ponies from Lake Forest.” This wealth, luxury and opulence to which Tom is used to enjoy may therefore effectively prove that Fitzgerald’s main purpose for his character is to present him as the archetypal villain of The Great Gatsby. This may also perhaps, as aforementioned, contribute to the wonderment and sense of awe that this character generates on the readers of the novel. It can be noticed that the blithe type of visual images through which Fitzgerald describes Buchanan’s lavish possessions, may to an extent provide a contrast with the dismal way in which the character and his personality are described, creating an emphasis on Buchanan’s position as the villain. However, on the other hand, Buchanan is not close to being a social outcast, as the stereotypical anti-hero characteristics...
Words: 590 - Pages: 3
...The Color Symbolism in “The Great Gatsby” A literary masterpiece such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, creates a vision of the typical American prosperous lifestyle through color and images. Fitzgerald cleverly uses colors to paint a picture of the privileged and twisted life of Jay Gatsby. In the novel the narrator Nick tells the story of Jay Gatsby, who throws elaborate parties to try to catch the attention of his true love Daisy. Nick also tells of the affairs and the misfortunes between the characters that would eventually led to Gatsby’s death. The prominent colors used in the novel (gold/ yellow, blue, white/ silver) help to create the image of wealth and old money, intricateness, and the multilayered personalities of the characters and the events. One of the prominent colors used in the novel are the colors yellow and gold. Fitzgerald uses yellow to connect to Daisy. Yellow can mean happiness or youth. The color yellow can also mean death. In the novel the car that Daisy was driving that killed Myrtle was yellow. Fitzgerald uses gold to depict the image of the old rich. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are considered old rich. Another color Fitzgerald uses to symbolize in the book is blue. He uses the color blue to describe the loneliness of Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is lonely because he is in love with Daisy, who is a married woman. Fitzgerald talks about how Gatsby longs for Daisy across his “blue lawn”. The “blue lawn” is the water separating Gatsby's house from Daisy’s...
Words: 452 - Pages: 2
...did Penicillin prevent growth of bacteria, it also fought against infectious diseases. This revolutionized medicine because a normal illnesses people were dying from could be treated. F. Scott Fitzgerald is the author of the classic The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby emphasized the glamorous, wealthy life and the consequences of bootlegging and corruption in the Roaring Twenties. Some common leisures were having fancy cars, watching movies, going into speakeasies, dance halls, listening to the radio and popular songs. Daisy (one of the main characters) and her friends represent a new liberated, rebellious women who smoked in public and had the flapper fashion. Jay Gatsby represents a wealthy bootlegger who sold alcohol in speakeasies illegally. Jay Gatsby’s parties show enormous wealth and show how people just wanted to have fun and party all the time. The 1920s was an era of change and progression in art, music, science and literature. It transformed people’s values and perspectives on life that carried us into the modern age. This period of time is called the Roaring Twenties for a reason. It represents the explosion of ideas and creativity that changed the world. ...
Words: 1356 - Pages: 6
...One of the most debated topics in The Great Gatsby is “What is the most essential symbol in the novel?” The most essential symbol in The Great Gatsby is the Valley of Ashes. Three examples of this are the Valley of Ashes represents the social decay of life during the Roaring Twenties, The Valley of Ashes represents the poor, and the Valley of Ashes represents drastic contrast from the rich and glamorous lifestyle in the Eggs. One example of the Valley of Ashes being the most essential symbol in The Great Gatsby is that the Valley of Ashes represents the social decay of life during the Roaring Twenties. Proof of this is that this is where Tom and Myrtle meet up for their affair. This is proven on page 28 when Nick and Tom are traveling to...
Words: 512 - Pages: 3
...“Jazz was the sound of the 1920s. Jazz and individuality blossomed in the Roaring Twenties, and there was no better medium to nurture the pure jazz sound than 1920's Harlem.” (Boland) It’s important to realize, Jazz was one of the most popular genres during the Harlem Renaissance. Not to mention, people felt extremely connected with jazz music. It was a type of genre for everyone, it gave many people a pleasant feeling. In other words, people, when jazz would play, felt more safe around that type of music, it made them feel more at home. Therefore, people would just go to clubs and admire all the performances, just soaking in all the raw...
Words: 458 - Pages: 2
...The Roaring Twenties was a lively period in history full of lifestyle changes and economic responsibilities. It was classified as “roaring” because of the animated culture of the generation; and while this era seems to portray partying and drinking, it was a critical decade for the advancement of civil rights for men and women. During the 1920’s, women took significant steps towards this equality they desired by enjoying all aspects of their lives, involving themselves both socially and politically, and inspiring young women to act upon their ambitions. Consequently, flappers have revolutionized the way women are viewed in today's society. Women of this generation formed a new type of feminism; they were scandalizing older generations by leaving...
Words: 1141 - Pages: 5
...What trends and innovations shaped American culture during the 1920s? There was many trends and innovations that changed the American culture during the 1920s including new technology, communication, and the knowledge of science. New technology created the automobiles and airplanes which improved transportation. Communication and entertainment increased due to radio’s and movies. And media and popularity helped promote sports. These are only a couple of innovations that shaped America. Technology changed American life forever with the automobiles and airplanes. The automobiles allowed families to move further away from the cities, lowered unemployment rates, increased industries and mass production, and brought excitement and adventure to teens. During the 20’s nearly every family owned an automobile, thanks to Harrison Ford. The airplane transported mail quicker than ever and showed how advanced America was becoming. The Warner brothers planes were eventually contracted to the arm forces. The military's use of planes in warfare changed nature of combat. Automobiles and airplanes both helped the economy and changed the lives of Americans. The radios in the 1920’s became an innovation that every family had. The radio was a very convenient way to access information, news, and ideas. Within a few years, the radio expanded and more stations popped up including concert information, preaches, and other interesting events. Families gathered every night to listen to the radio. Films...
Words: 882 - Pages: 4
...This has been demonstrated by a connection to the 21st century, how the time period of the Roaring Twenties effected the characters actions, and further illustrated by a comparison to characters with different archetypes in other novels. As a result Jay Gatsby Page Break Works Cited Amadeo, Kimberly. "5 Ways Our Founding Fathers Protect The American Dream." The Balance. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017. "Donald Trump Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017. Edwards, Halle. "Best Character Analysis: Jay Gatsby - The Great Gatsby." Best Character Analysis: Jay Gatsby - The Great Gatsby. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2017. "How Donald Trump Is Like Jay Gatsby." ArtsJournal. N.p., 07 Oct. 2016. Web. 10 Mar. 2017. "The Great Gatsby." The Great Gatsby: Jay Gatsby | Character Analysis | CliffsNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar...
Words: 956 - Pages: 4
...Mark De Leon Mr.Slaughter Period 4/U.S.History 11/2/17 Science and Technology Essay Back in the 1920s the time was changed from multiple things the telephone,automobile, and many other things that changed that time. According to (https://www.ncpedia.org/history/20th-Century/1920s) the 1920s was a decade of change when many Americans owned cars,radios, and telephone for the first time. People were new to these things but many benefits came from these things such as the telephone which you were able to contact people from a far distance and communicate with each other. Then, the automobile which people were allowed to move from their work and travel far away. Some even got the opportunity to go on vacation. The main things that really...
Words: 333 - Pages: 2
