F. Scott Fitzgerald and "the Jazz Age"

F. Scott Fitzgerald incorporated the Jazz Culture into The Great Gatsby in numerous account of ways. First way is how the characters consumed liquor like those in the 1920's; at a time when Prohibition didn't even allow liquor. Second are the luxurious and prosperous lives the characters in "The Great Gatsby" lived. They were able to conduct more leisure activities because at that time in the 1920's, labor-saving appliances and shorter working hours gave Americans the right to do so. This was also a flamboyant time in history where people did what they pleased. Last but not least, since transportation became more advanced, people traveled more often in their stylish cars.

First of all, Prohibition, the 18th Amendment was enacted in 1919 but many Americans objected to this law as seen in Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby". The author put a dominant emphasis on drinking all throughout the novel. This can be seen when Tom and Myrtle have a get-together with their friends and Nick, the narrator, where everyone acquired more than two cups of Whiskey, except Myrtle's friend Catherine who was happy without the illegal beverage. The manufacturing and distribution is also what made the riches of Jay Gatsby and Meyer Wolfsheim. Speakeasies back in the 1920s were usually ran in underground locations all over various places and cities- mainly in Chicago, the city to be the most occupied with corrupt mobster gangsters. In the book it is rumored that this is how Gatsby acquired his riches being "new money". Meyer Wolfsheim is said to be like his "partner in crime".

Second, one of the most obvious forms of the theme of the book were the materialistic attitude the characters performed to one another which classified West Egg from East Egg. In Jazz Age, materialism is profoundly apparent as well as in the pages of "The Great Gatsby". However, the materials did not seem to compensate the emotional needs of Fitzgerald's characters. Gatsby's late-night parties were only a just a metaphor of his loneliness and longing for Daisy Buchanan's appearance at one of his fabulous and extravagant parties. Gatsby also uses material to shock and astonish Daisy when she comes to visit after 5 years. He impresses her with his lavish home lifestyle by giving her a tour and showing off everything he has. After that, he ends up basing his values of his belongings on Daisy's reactions.