1920's Society

"one thing's sure and nothing's surer

The rich get richer and the poor get- children.

In the meantime,

In between time -" ( Fitzgerald 97)

Before F. Scott Fitzgerald became recognized as an enduring classic novelist, he was originally simply considered an author that effectively portrayed the 1920's decade. In his novels, Fitzgerald explored topics such as flappers, underground crime, and 1920's rich society. A vivid portrayal of the 1920's is one of the elements that I find makes The Great Gatsby such an enjoyable novel. I really do feel transported back in time, but at the same time, I have an awareness of the similarities between this decade and the one I'm living in.     

The "roaring twenties" was a term used to describe the 1920's decade. It was an era of hope and riches: World War One had just ended, and new advances in culture and technology led to more lighthearted lifestyles. There was increased freedom for women, not only because of the suffrage movement, but also because woman were entering the workforce, and having more freedom in clothing and lifestyle choices. "Flappers" were women who wore short hair, short dresses, smoked, and epitomized the revolutionary, carefree and playful spirit of the 1920"s. F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the first to use the term "flapper", and these flappers became important characters in many of his novels.

"I had no idea of originating an American flapper when I first began to write. I simply took girls whom I knew very well and, because they interested me as unique human beings, I used them for my heroines." - Fitzgerald

It's interesting that Fitzgerald describes the flappers as the heroines in his novels. Fitzgerald is cynical about rich society, as is evident later in this reading response, so it would make sense if he felt the same cynicism towards the flappers, who are also considered social climbers. He must have felt great affection towards the women in his life that inspired this character. Perhaps the original flapper was his wife, Zelda, for she portrays many of the characteristics described for flappers.

In the early 1920s, prohibition of alcohol came into effect, and created a vast culture of underground crime. Loan sharking, running speakeasies, and bootlegging were all common crimes in the 1920's. These topics are suggested, but not explored in the Great Gatsby. It is hinted that Gatsby, and his “friend” Mr. Wolfshiem are bootleggers, and that is how Gatsby made his fortune.

“I found out what your ‘drug stores’ were.” He turned to us and spoke rapidly. “He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong.” (134)

Gatsby, like any intriguing character in a novel, has good and bad qualities. Somehow, the fact that he is a bootlegger, and a criminal, does not diminish his beautiful and admirable character. To me, it adds to his mystery. Gatsby is a kind man full of dreams and longing, yet he has this other side that we know little about. Since the connection to bootlegging is only suggested and not explored, the reader can expand the idea in their own mind, and come to their own conclusions of the moral value of his character.

The 1920’s was a time of gaiety and partying; a time for the rich to enjoy being rich. Fitzgerald appears to have great cynicism for the rich society.

“Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different.” – Fitzgerald

In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby throws many extravagant parties, where many wild and exciting things happen, and the guests appear to be in a state of constant gaiety. Fitzgerald’s cynicism is evident in his descriptions of the guests, particularly the social climbers.

“The groups change more swiftly, swell with new arrivals, dissolve and form in the same breath; already there are wanderers, confident girls who weave here and there among the stouter and more stable, become for a sharp, joyous moment the centre of a group, and then, excited with triumph, glide on through the sea-change of faces and voices and colour under the constantly changing light.” (40-41)

Fitzgerald seemed to despise the whole concept of social climbers; people struggling to become part of the very top society. He seemed to believe that the rich are careless and cynical people. Throughout his life, Fitzgerald wavered between being part of the rich society and not. Was it the times when he was a rich socialite himself, or when he was on the outside of that society, that formed his cynicism of the rich?