Jay Gatsby's Public Life

Words: 204
Pages: 1
Open Document
Jay Gatsby’s public life was the American Dream to most people in the Twenties. Everyone wanted happiness, individualism, and wealth, but in order to get these things people often turned to dishonesty. The 1920’s is often referred to as the “Roaring Twenties.” During this time the majority of Americans lived in cities rather than on farms. “The nation’s wealth doubled between 1920 and 1929, and this economic growth swept many Americans into an affluent but unfamiliar “consumer society”. The twenties brought about the era of the “new woman.” Every young woman was bobbing their hair and wearing shorter skirts. Women began drinking, smoking, and other “unladylike” things. The 19th Amendment brought about a sense of freedom and empowerment in women
Show More

Related Documents: Jay Gatsby's Public Life

great gatsby Essay

original American dream is that no matter what lifestyle you came from, you can always become successful in life through your hard work. The new American dream portrayed in the story is that wealth can get you anything over true personality anf beliefs. Fitzgerald shows the destruction of character that is caused by the new dream of wealth over everything, especially by the main character Jay Gatsby. Throughout "The Great Gatsby", Fitzgerald discusses the story of a young man's confusion in the world…

Words 457 - Pages 2

Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Great Gatsby Essay

one significant similarity between author and his novels major character. F. Scott Fitzgerald is the author of the famous novel, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald uses his past experiences for the base of his main character, Jay Gatsby. By changing specific details, he gave Jay a life of his own. A major similarity between the two is that they both fell madly in love with a woman, Gatsby fell for a married girl named Daisy Buchanan, and Fitzgerald fell for Zelda Sayre. Fitzgerald was commissioned a second…

Words 829 - Pages 4

Examples Of Moral Decay In The Great Gatsby

family life, and work, the American dream is the driving force behind an individual's actions and is a defining characteristic of the 1920s. Society’s moral decay is clearly shown throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby and these actions take place in a handful of ways in every social class. The separation of classes between old money, new money and no money builds on the idea of moral decay in society through Myrtle Wilson’s attempts to move up in social class, Jay Gatsby’s delusions…

Words 1632 - Pages 7

Essay about Great Gatsby and the Influence of Money and Greed on Characters

"The contrast between the lively debauchery and Gatsby's lonely isolation hints at the true purpose of the parties and the concealed nature of the man's passion." (Gibb, pg. 1) All of his lies and even the aspect of his life that are true all circle back to his desire and passion to be rich. His lies all create an alternate life and give his companion Nick Carraway and other a false identity of Jay Gatsby. Not only has this corruption and obsession infected Gatsby, but…

Words 1776 - Pages 8

Morality In The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, characters constantly lie to or outright deceive each other. The narrator, Nick Carraway, extols his own honesty, but as his audience we see how he repeatedly withholds information from his peers in important scenarios. Jay Gatsby, the man Nick follows in the story, much more blatantly lies to others about his rise to fame, making…

Words 1430 - Pages 6

Examples Of Disillusionment In The Great Gatsby

his mind wrapped around romance “[i]n the character of Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald caught the contradictions of romantic illusion in the heartless, cynical modern society that tolerated criminals like Gatsby as long as they picked up the check” (Gazette 3). Gatsby romanticizes about life and love too much. That means he can’t focus on the real parts. He should focus on how he could reach the American Dream and not a girl whom he thinks is perfect. Life is full of bigger opportunities. Gatsby could never…

Words 1854 - Pages 8

Essay on The American Dream Worthy or WorthlessWhile

in his novel. The American Dream has declined and became corrupt based on the surroundings. It became corrupt because of the luxury and wealth of the society. This is portrayed by Jay Gatsby because of what society has pushed him to do. Gatsby throws very fancy and high class people parties to show off to the public. He also owns and buys expensive things to show off to the society because this is what the desire to reach the American Dream pushes him to do. Many actions of Gatsby throughout the…

Words 1131 - Pages 5

Tom Buchanan Symbolism In The Great Gatsby

with Tom and she kept repeating Daisy’s name. Not only is Tom disloyal, he also shows that he is very willing to beat women. Overall, Tom’s personality is a major illustration of deception. Another example of lies and deceit are the lies told by Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is a dishonest character. Fitzgerald allows the reader to venture and to make assumptions about Gatsby, only revealing the truth towards the conclusion of the novel. Since Gatsby and Nick have become closer, he tells Nick about his past…

Words 1229 - Pages 5

Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Great Gatsby Essay

society. The character is alienated because of his secluded and timid behaviors that do not allow the public to know every personal detail about him; due to Gatsby's lack of importance in society and social stance, he is alienated and ignored at his own party by the society that does not care to properly greet him or thank him. He becomes alienated because of the area he lives in and his past poverty life; his kind actions and caring for others' well-being is…

Words 292 - Pages 2

Urban Culture In The Great Gatsby

World War One, as well as a booming economy, a drastic increase in crime, and a shift towards modern values. However, the Roaring Twenties also introduces the ideology that people are defined by their possessions and status, as the wealthy become public figures just because of their money. Thus, Fitzgerald utilizes multiple negative aspects of the 1920's culture to demonstrate the disillusionment of wealth. To begin, Fitzgerald showcases two key characters, Gatsby and Tom, that use the power of…

Words 665 - Pages 3