The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald Social and Historical Background The Context

The Great Gatsby ‘In 1922 F Scott Fitzgerald announced his decision to write ‘something new – extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned.’ Self made millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald’s and his country’s most abiding obsessions; money, ambition, greed and the promise of new beginnings.’ ‘In 1922 F Scott Fitzgerald announced his decision to write ‘something new – extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned.’ Self made millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald’s and his country’s most abiding obsessions; money, ambition, greed and the promise of new beginnings.’ From review of The Great Gatsby The Lost Generation bookstore (online)

The Great Gatsby Published in 1925 Published in 1925 Significantly sandwiched between WW1 and WW2 Significantly sandwiched between WW1 and WW2 An American novel An American novel

1920’s America Fitzgerald is renowned for chronicling the Jazz Age Fitzgerald is renowned for chronicling the Jazz Age This was the decade that followed the First World War This was the decade that followed the First World War This time was also know as The Golden Twenties or the Roaring Twenties This time was also know as The Golden Twenties or the Roaring Twenties

1920’s America These years were full of pleasure seeking and reckless exuberance These years were full of pleasure seeking and reckless exuberance Fitzgerald said “America was going on the greatest, gaudiest spree in history and there was going to be plenty to tell about it.” Fitzgerald said “America was going on the greatest, gaudiest spree in history and there was going to be plenty to tell about it.”

1920’s America Some people considered this age to be the ‘Lost Generation’ Some people considered this age to be the ‘Lost Generation’ –A generation disillusioned by the senseless slaughter of WW1, they were cynical and disdainful of Victorian Notions and propriety of their elders Ernest Hemingway captured the essence of this Lost Generation in his novel The Sun Also Rises (1926) Ernest Hemingway captured the essence of this Lost Generation in his novel The Sun Also Rises (1926)

1920’s Culture Charlie Chaplin Edward Hopper Nighthawks Picasso Silent Movies Matisse Kandinsky

Music/Jazz Duke Ellington Duke Ellington Cole Porter Cole Porter Gershwin Gershwin Maurice Chevalier Maurice Chevalier

Writers Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein Henry Miller Henry Miller T S Eliot T S Eliot Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker

The Mass Market Population of USA doubled 50yrs before WW1 Population of USA doubled 50yrs before WW1 There was a problem with meeting basic needs There was a problem with meeting basic needs Solution – Mass production. Henry Ford was the first to use an assembly line to make Model T cars in 1913 Solution – Mass production. Henry Ford was the first to use an assembly line to make Model T cars in 1913

The Mass Market There was massive growth in commodities There was massive growth in commodities There was standardization across the country There was standardization across the country Everything was made available to everyone Everything was made available to everyone Therefore most people wanted… Therefore most people wanted…

Advertising As a result Advertising became big business As a result Advertising became big business Brand names were more prominent Brand names were more prominent Advertising created the desire for purchasing Advertising created the desire for purchasing The taste of the nation was shaped… The taste of the nation was shaped…

Conspicuous Consumption A term coined by an American social scientist A term coined by an American social scientist A response to the over whelming amount of rich businessmen with power in America A response to the over whelming amount of rich businessmen with power in America They showed off their wealth with ostentatious houses and extravagant behaviour They showed off their wealth with ostentatious houses and extravagant behaviour

Conspicuous Consumption Veblen called this ‘Conspicuous Consumption’ because he thought the lifestyle was wasteful and caused more poverty in the lower classes Veblen called this ‘Conspicuous Consumption’ because he thought the lifestyle was wasteful and caused more poverty in the lower classes People liked to announce their status, never caring about the effect on others People liked to announce their status, never caring about the effect on others

Prohibition and Organised Crime

From 1920 to 1933, the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol was prohibited in the United States From 1920 to 1933, the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol was prohibited in the United States It was intended to raise the country’s moral standards It was intended to raise the country’s moral standards It had the opposite effect! It had the opposite effect! Apparently in 1925 there were 100,000 speakeasies in New York alone Apparently in 1925 there were 100,000 speakeasies in New York alone

Prohibition and Organised Crime Bootlegging became big business Bootlegging became big business Criminals, such as Al Capone made their fortunes producing and selling illegal alcohol Criminals, such as Al Capone made their fortunes producing and selling illegal alcohol There was an illegal economy organised by powerful gangs There was an illegal economy organised by powerful gangs Money was made through gambling and protection rackets Money was made through gambling and protection rackets

Here is Hollywood’s view

Women In the Jazz Age the Flapper was born In the Jazz Age the Flapper was born The typical Flapper was a young woman who was thought of as fast and maybe even a little brazen The typical Flapper was a young woman who was thought of as fast and maybe even a little brazen She symbolized an age anxious to enjoy itself… She symbolized an age anxious to enjoy itself…

Again, a Hollywood interpretation, but listen closely to the words…

1920’s America The End