The Time Period of the Great Gatsby

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby,' which of the following is true about the novel's portrayal of the 1920s?

In The Great Gatsby, set during the Roaring Twenties, the cultural impact of consumerism and prohibition is explored. Fitzgerald's novel is a classic and period piece that reflects the social and political tensions of the 1920s, with a story and characters influenced by the economic boom and controversial extravagance of the era. 

Which of the following were new inventions that families could afford during the Roaring Twenties in the United States, and how did women rebel against traditional gender roles and social mores during this time?

The Roaring Twenties was a time of significant economic boom and the beginning of consumer culture in the United States. Families were able to afford new inventions like cars and appliances and could get in-store credit. Women rebelled against traditional gender roles and social mores, with young women engaging in public activities like drinking and smoking and wearing shorter skirts and hats. Those who eschewed these traditional social mores were thereby nicknamed flappers. However, society was still deeply racist and misogynistic (misogyny, prejudice against women, and a level of sexism to keep women at a lower social status than men), thereby reinforcing societal/gender roles, as portrayed in The Great Gatsby, where racist views and violence towards women are seen through one of the book's main characters.

What can be inferred about the societal changes of the 1920s from the portrayal of Gatsby's parties and mansion in The Great Gatsby?

The Great Gatsby reflects the prevalent themes of 1920s culture, including the shift in social norms allowing for mixed-gender parties and the extravagance of the era's new economic wealth, as seen in Gatsby's parties and mansion. The novel also portrays concerns about the sustainability of this prosperity, as represented in Gatsby's affair with Daisy and its tragic end.

How did Prohibition contribute to the rise of organized crime in the United States?

Prohibition, outlawing the consumption and sale of alcohol, was prominent in 1920s American society and helped to fuel the rise of organized crime. The 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act aimed to curb public drunkenness but sent drinking culture underground, leading to the rise of speakeasies (an underground drinking establishments that grew in popularity to sell and consume alcohol). Prohibition plays a significant role in The Great Gatsby, with allusions to Gatsby gaining his fortune through bootlegging and a heated exchange between Gatsby's mistress and her husband regarding his illegal alcohol activities.

The economic boom of the Roaring Twenties coincided with, and was partly fueled by,

How does prohibition arise in The Great Gatsby?

How does Gatsby's short love affair with Daisy mirror 1920s commentators' feelings about the period?

The underground drinking establishments that proliferated during the prohibition era were known as _____.

What were young women in the 1920s who eschewed traditional social mores nicknamed?

Which societal aspect does The Great Gatsby critique through the character of Gatsby?

The Great Gatsby was written by Fitzgerald in 1924 while living in Paris, with the intention of capturing the American Dream in a way that would transcend the ideas of everyday life. Published in 1925, the novel tells the story of Jay Gatsby, who goes to costly lengths to gain power and acceptance after acquiring new wealth, all in pursuit of his version of the American Dream.

The novel is set in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg, located on Long Island. The West Egg is where those with ''new money'' lived, and it's here where Nick Carraway, a recent Yale graduate and bonds broker, narrates the story. Nick lives next to Gatsby's enormous mansion and is drawn into Gatsby's world of extravagance and excess.

On the other side of the bay is East Egg, where Nick's cousin Daisy Buchanan lives with her husband, Tom, who represents the old money society that Gatsby aspires to be a part of. Before Gatsby acquired his wealth and moved to Long Island, he courted and fell in love with Daisy. However, he was deployed to fight in World War I, and it was unknown to Daisy whether or not he survived. To ensure her status in society, Daisy went on to marry the wealthy Tom Buchanan.

Much of the story revolves around Gatsby's desire to win back Daisy. He throws elaborate parties, exaggerates his successes, and schemes to secretly meet Daisy, knowing she is a married woman. Unfortunately, Gatsby's plan to get Daisy back quickly unravels as his superficial façade is all too visible. He knows that he will never be accepted by those with old money, including Tom and Daisy. Despite this, Gatsby's desires to break societal constraints for approval eventually become his downfall. His inability to see who Daisy has truly become and lack of judgment is his demise, thus making him a tragic hero in the story.

F. Scott Fitzgerald vs. Jay Gatsby

Commonly reflected in Fitzgerald's work was his life. Though he would change the names, he often used people from his life as characters. The character Jay Gatsby had many similarities and differences to Fitzgerald. Both Gatsby and Fitzgerald enlisted in the military during WWI. In the novel, Gatsby is deployed fighting in Europe during his courtship with Daisy. Fitzgerald enlisted in the army after he flunked out of Princeton. During his training, he met his soon-to-be wife, Zelda. Gatsby and Fitzgerald both attended Ivy League schools but did not finish. Fitzgerald flunked out of Princeton, and Gatsby briefly attended Oxford University following his deployment in Europe.

Gatsby and Fitzgerald lost love, and who wanted them to be wealthy and successful. Gatsby loses Daisy to Tom Buchanan, a man with old money and inherited wealth. Gatsby desperately tries to get Daisy's attention by throwing lavish parties across the bay from the Buchanan home. He hopes this will prove his success and thus acceptance from Daisy. Similarly, Fitzgerald fell in love with a woman named Ginerva King while attending Princeton. King came from a prestigious family with money and high social class. Fitzgerald had little to offer being a poor college student. King's father disapproved of the courtship, claiming Fitzgerald was too poor for his daughter. Fitzgerald married Zelda Sayre, who also wanted Fitzgerald to be wealthy and successful. He continued to write to achieve success and make Zelda happy.

Conversely to the many similarities between Gatsby and Fitzgerald, there were also some differences. Both Gatsby and Fitzgerald had grown up surrounded by lavish lifestyles and the wealthy. Though Gatsby was able to establish himself as new money, Fitzgerald could never capture the same amount of wealth and success. Though Gatsby throws extravagant parties in the novel, he is not much of a drinker. Fitzgerald heavily drank through the prohibition era but said he never wrote when he was drunk. Gatsby dwells on his lost love, Daisy, and does everything in his power to win her back. Fitzgerald seemingly accepts the disapproval of King and her family. He later marries a woman of the same social class.

Even though the character of Jay Gatsby invokes many similarities to that of Fitzgerald, the character that most closely resembles him is the narrator, Nick Carraway. Nick moves to West Egg of Long Island as a successful bonds salesman but cannot afford a luxurious home like Gatsby's. Similarly, Fitzgerald dreamed of one day being able to afford the luxurious lifestyle of Gatsby but did not attain that amount of success. He lives modestly, watching the lives of the wealthy and being a guest at lavish parties. In the novel, Nick writes about Gatsby as he retells the story, making him more similar to Fitzgerald. Despite all the similarities and differences, Fitzgerald wrote the character of Gatsby as more of an outsider. Fitzgerald constantly felt like an outsider to the constant societal expectations due to living with modest means among the wealthy.

True or False:  The Great Gatsby was not influenced by Fitzgerald's personal experiences, cultural and social changes of 1920s America, and his desire for wealth and success.

The Great Gatsby was inspired by Fitzgerald's life experiences and the cultural and social changes of 1920s America. These included the Jazz Age and Prohibition, which Fitzgerald witnessed while living in New York City. Fitzgerald was also motivated by the American Dream and his desire for wealth and success. Additionally, Fitzgerald's lost love for Ginerva King inspired the character of Daisy in the novel.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between The Great Gatsby and the Jazz Age?

The Jazz Age, also known as the Roaring Twenties, was a period of excess and materialism in America. The era was characterized by new jazz music styles, unique dance styles, and changing social values. The Great Gatsby was written during this period and was heavily inspired by Fitzgerald's experiences living through the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald's love of jazz music and the extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy were key components of his characters and the story's setting. Gatsby's deep love of the new age movement reflects Fitzgerald's embrace of the vastly changing ideologies of the 1920s.

Which of the following best summarizes Fitzgerald's view of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby?

Fitzgerald was inspired by the American Dream, but felt that it was a cruel joke as true happiness was always out of reach. The Great Gatsby portrays the cruelty of the American Dream through the symbolism of the "green light," visible across the bay from his house, representing wealth that is completely unattainable. Despite Gatsby's lavish parties and attempts to win back Daisy, she chooses to stay with Tom, who has a good name and family money. Gatsby's obsession with achieving the American Dream ultimately leads to his downfall and murder.

What can be inferred about Zelda and Fitzgerald's relationship?

Fitzgerald's wife Zelda was also a part of the inspiration for The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald met his wife Zelda Sayre while he was enlisted in the army. Zelda had established herself as somewhat of a socialite. Still, she had yet to be convinced that Fitzgerald was financially stable enough. It wasn't until his first novel was published that Zelda finally agreed to marry him. She became Fitzgerald's inspiration for the character of Daisy in The Great Gatsby. The two can easily be compared to one another. Daisy was more interested in acquiring wealth and having a good name in society. It was not until Fitzgerald received some acclaim and success from his first novel that Zelda believed he was an acceptable marriage choice. Their relationship became rocky over the years. Fitzgerald never receiving success beyond The Great Gatsby factored into the crumbling relationship, much like Gatsby's quest to win Daisy.