Social And Cultural Changes In The Great Gatsby

Words: 735

Pages: 3

Open Document

Gatsby in History
The conditions that existed during the time that the novel took place led to the attitudes and actions that are taken by characters in the novel. The industrial advances of the era led to increased wealth and challenged those whose wealth was in their bloodlines, led by those who had accumulated their fortunes through hard work and opportunity. This new distribution of wealth led to changes in perception of social echelons, as people worked to become more influential and experimented with moving up and down on the social spectrum. These changes in society are prominently displayed in the actions of those illustrated in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby. These changes became a vital part of the roaring twenties, a time of prosperity and expanding culture …show more content…
The social and cultural changes that were occurring at the time, dramatically influenced the outlook and actions of Jay Gatsby, who despite desperate attempts and considerable wealth was unable to connect with the woman he loved.
Jay Gatsby is, despite his large influence, unable to enjoy the presence of the people around him and is socially …show more content…
Gatsby was once intimate with Daisy but he left for war, “‘Why not?’ ‘Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.’” (78). Gatsby is so desperate to be near Daisy that he positions himself so that she is always near him. He appears to be living in the present with his parties, but in fact every decision he makes is a calculated move to win over Daisy. “‘If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay,’ said Gatsby. ‘You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.’”(92) Gatsby associates the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock with the everlasting affection he feels for her as well as the distance that separates them and tears Gatsby

Archetype In The Great Gatsby

Jay Gatsby: American Dreamer I am interested in writing about the American Dreamer archetype. A person who falls into this architype is usually someone who has a goal and is willing to do anything to achieve that goal. My research paper will be written about Jay Gatsby, a character from The Great Gatsby, who falls into the American Dreamer architype. Jay Gatsby is an American Dreamer because of his dream of eventually finding his long lost love Daisy. The sources available for this paper are as…

Words 372 - Pages 2

What Are Gender Roles In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby takes place during an extremely exciting but volatile time in American history: the 1920s. Women had just received the right to vote, and were beginning to not only work, but work in jobs that had been previously limited to men. These were new freedoms that they had never felt before in this country. Nowhere are these changes more apparent than in the depiction of gender roles and how the characters interact within this novel. Men are constantly depicted as powerful, physical, and…

Words 722 - Pages 3

The Great Gatsby Research Paper

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ emerged during the roaring twenties—a time known for economical, cultural and social change which brought about new-found wealth. ‘Sweet Bird of Youth’ was performed when Tennessee Williams was making his views on society clearer than ever. In ‘The Catastrophe of Success’ he wrote: ‘nobody should have to clean up anybody else’s mess in this world’. The social and historical contexts of ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Sweet Bird of Youth’ have evidently influenced…

Words 291 - Pages 2

The Great Gatsby Book Report Essay

Louis Chen The Great Gatsby Book Report The book, The Great Gatsby, was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896. He received his name form the man who wrote the "The Star-Spangled Banner". Like Nick, the main character of The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald had a strong romantic desire. It is as if the events of F. Scott Fitzgerald's life were put into this book. While Fitzgerald lived near Montgomery, Alabama, he met one of the many loves of his life…

Words 1082 - Pages 5

Examples Of Modernism In The Great Gatsby

defying the social norms that society had built. Music, art, and literature had no limits and allowed people to experience the new ways of modernism.…

Words 396 - Pages 2

Literary Devices In The Great Gatsby

abstract ideas and concepts to the readers. The Great Gatsby is the epitome of exceptional use of literary devices. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, employs several elaborate literary devices in the novel; the most prevalent being symbolism. The significance of the many symbolic elements in The Great Gatsby plays a role in revealing the underlying themes of the American Dream, the ongoing clash between love and wealth and social and moral…

Words 1414 - Pages 6

Flappers Research Paper

The 1920s, known as the Roaring Twenties, were a period of vibrant social and cultural change that significantly affected women's roles in high society. This era saw the emergence of flappers, young women who defied traditional norms with their bobbed hair, shorter hemlines, and unabashed enjoyment of jazz music and dance halls. These changes were not merely superficial; they represented a fundamental shift in the perception and expression of women's independence. The flapper movement challenged…

Words 1002 - Pages 5

Gatsby Analysis Essay

1/7/2015 Gatsby Paper The “Roaring 20s,” was a time of great economic prosperity in American cities. This era was a massive cultural change compared to previous decades. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Great Gatsby” during this era, however it was not successful until after Fitzgerald’s death. “The Great Gatsby” explores this decade following the story of Jay Gatsby through Nick Carraway’s point of view and during this novel the American dream is greatly explored. Throughout “The Great Gatsb…

Words 1370 - Pages 6

1920s Flappers Research Paper

The 1920s was a surge of innovation and cultural change. The band aid, electric blender, and instant camera were all iconic inventions of the 1920s. During the rapid progression of the 1920s, one of the most important creations was not a material item but a new group of women: the flapper. The majority of people reduce flappers to women who chose short haircuts and boxy dresses, characterized in F. Scott Fitzgerald's book The Great Gatsby. Flappers were actually a culturally dense phenomenon shaped…

Words 274 - Pages 2

What Is The Context Of The Great Gatsby

Essay – The Great Gatsby context research The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. It depicts the lavish new lifestyle of the 1920’s. The book itself is about Jay Gatsby, a man who is utterly in love with Daisy Buchanan. His quest to attain her leads him from poverty to wealth, however, Daisy is proven unworthy of his affection as Gatsby is killed because of her actions. The novel depicts the context in which it was written, exploring ideas of disillusionment, the American…

Words 4737 - Pages 19