The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates the decline of the American Dream and continues to appeal to readers with its ability to apply to time frames even after the 1920s. This novel gives insight into wealth and its effect on American society during its respective time frame and the conflicts between social classes during this period. The events and conflicts in this novel can be relatable to readers in other time periods. This novel was truly groundbreaking definitely deserves to be considered an American classic.
One idea that this novel depicts is how wealth or lack of it affected American society. One way in which this wealth affected society was through a decline in the American Dream. Furthermore, this is new wealth …show more content…
The 1920s was a time in which there were many people who found themselves acquiring a large amount of wealth in a very short time frame. However, not all of this affluence may have been attained legally. Bootlegging is just one example of a large scale illegal business operation that took place during this time period and provided many notable people with wealth. “It 's been claimed that the businessman and American ambassador to Britain Joseph P Kennedy used wealth he amassed from bootlegging to fund the political careers of his sons John and Robert Kennedy” (“A Point Of View: Gatsby and the Way We Live Now”). However, this was not the only time of prosperity and newfound wealth in the United States. Another example of a time of economic prosperity was the dot com bubble of the late 1990s. Similar to the 1920s, many people found themselves affluent in a very small period of time. “It was a seeming wonderland where anyone with an idea could start making money” (Geier). Additionally, not every millionaire during this time period legally made their money. Similar to bootlegging during the 1920s, there were also larger scale drug operations that spanned across the country and sometimes even across nations. Additionally, there were fortunes made selling other illegal items in black markets.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, depicts the decline of the American Dream in the 1920s but can also be applicable to similar periods of time in American history. This novel also portrays wealth’s effect on society and the internal conflict within the upper class. Additionally, elements if this novel and the time frame in which it was written can be seen in other points of
One idea that this novel depicts is how wealth or lack of it affected American society. One way in which this wealth affected society was through a decline in the American Dream. Furthermore, this is new wealth …show more content…
The 1920s was a time in which there were many people who found themselves acquiring a large amount of wealth in a very short time frame. However, not all of this affluence may have been attained legally. Bootlegging is just one example of a large scale illegal business operation that took place during this time period and provided many notable people with wealth. “It 's been claimed that the businessman and American ambassador to Britain Joseph P Kennedy used wealth he amassed from bootlegging to fund the political careers of his sons John and Robert Kennedy” (“A Point Of View: Gatsby and the Way We Live Now”). However, this was not the only time of prosperity and newfound wealth in the United States. Another example of a time of economic prosperity was the dot com bubble of the late 1990s. Similar to the 1920s, many people found themselves affluent in a very small period of time. “It was a seeming wonderland where anyone with an idea could start making money” (Geier). Additionally, not every millionaire during this time period legally made their money. Similar to bootlegging during the 1920s, there were also larger scale drug operations that spanned across the country and sometimes even across nations. Additionally, there were fortunes made selling other illegal items in black markets.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, depicts the decline of the American Dream in the 1920s but can also be applicable to similar periods of time in American history. This novel also portrays wealth’s effect on society and the internal conflict within the upper class. Additionally, elements if this novel and the time frame in which it was written can be seen in other points of