The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
10 Elements of Life in the 1920's that Fitzgerald Portrays in His Book:
F. Scott Fitzgerald despises the 20's culture and tells readers/other Americans through his novel, "The Great Gatsby." With all the elements above, one can clearly see that Fitzgerald looked at the Roaring Twenties as a terrible era. Throughout his novel, "The Great Gatsby," Fitzgerald explains all the bad "awful" things Americans got into. Ideas such as loose morals, death, failing American Dream all support the views of Fitzgerald. In the end of the novel, the main character experiences both death and failure.
- Loose Morals: Such as Flappers, the new nickname given to woman. Fitzgerald states, through his novel, that Americans came started to "drop" their strong, good morals, for ones that included fashion, more money, and so on.
- Old Cars: Fitzgerald repeated the use of "old cars" in his novel. Today, Americans can agree that there is quite a distinction between the cars then and now.
- The Harlem Renaissance: The culture movement that was known as the "New Negro Movement." Fitzgerald has a tone of despair as he went through this element in the novel.
- Bootleggers: These were smugglers of alcohol and illegal drugs. Fitzgerald shows that this crime was common during the 1920's.
- Parties: For Americans in the United States who were wealthy enough, many parties were held. Fitzgerald makes his characters continuously get invited to parties.
- Rags to Riches: Fitzgerald portrays this element in his novel by having his main character rise up in society. In the U.S. during the 1920's many opportunities were given to Americans to get jobs and therefore money.
- Big Cities: America in the 1920's thrived and grew crowded with many immigrants or other U.S. citizens. With all the people in one place at one time, cities began to grow. Fitzgerald talks about New York and how it all ready thrived and prospered.
- The American Dream: The idea that the United States would be successful and prosper was the American Dream. Fitzgerald does an excellent job at referencing this in his "Great Gatsby."
- Death/Suspicion: Throughout the Roaring Twenties, this element came about. Money, jealousy, debt, and many others caused for death and suspicion to grow increasingly. Again, Fitzgerald portrays this nicely in his novel.
- Music/Entertainment: New music (jazz) and entertainment (movies) were probably what made the 20's a remembered era.
F. Scott Fitzgerald despises the 20's culture and tells readers/other Americans through his novel, "The Great Gatsby." With all the elements above, one can clearly see that Fitzgerald looked at the Roaring Twenties as a terrible era. Throughout his novel, "The Great Gatsby," Fitzgerald explains all the bad "awful" things Americans got into. Ideas such as loose morals, death, failing American Dream all support the views of Fitzgerald. In the end of the novel, the main character experiences both death and failure.