The Roaring 20s and F. Scott Fitzgerald

1920sPeriod of time after World War 1 - idea of “The Roaring 20s” started in the US spread to Europe.

•The spirit of the Roaring Twenties was marked by a feeling associated with a break with tradition. The idea of “modernity” spread rapidly. Modern--- break w/ tradition •Everything seemed to be feasible through modern technology. Economic boom--- lots of money surge in technologyEx: cars, trains, radio, telephones, mass communication

•For the first time there was such a thing as mass communication and it brought the idea of modernity to the American public. •Radio enabled mass marketing for the first time—its economic importance led to the mass culture that continues to dominate society. •The 20s have also been dubbed “the golden age of radio.”

During the 20s mass production developed which allowed for cheaper prices of technology products. This made the automobile affordable, as well as movies and radios. By 1927, Henry Ford had sold 15 million Model T cars.

20s--- “The Jazz Age”--- radios began broadcasting jazz music, which became extremely popular and was associated with all things modern, sophisticated, and decadent.

Louis Armstrong: one of the most notable jazz musicians of the time. Known for improvisations and endless variations on a single melody. Other notable jazz musicians: Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington.

Flappers: as the role of women began to change and more women entered the work force, there was a style move towards androgyny. Corsets went out of style, the bob became the preferred hair style, and some women even taped their breasts to make them look flatter. This style was dubbed “Flapper” –and was marked by women who wore short dresses with a straight, loose silhouette. 

18th AmendmentEnacted Prohibition through the Volstead Act- the manufacture, sale, import, and export of alcohol in the U.S. was prohibited. This amendment gave rise to organized crime---mob as illegal smuggling became big business for criminal organizations.

SpeakeasiesBecame popular and numerous as the Prohibition years progressed, and led to the rise of gangsters such as Al Capone. Place to get alcohol

Speak the password to get inCorruption- speakeasy operators would bribe police;

tipped off operators

Lost GenerationYoung people who came out of WWI very cynical and disillusioned; the term usually refers to American literary notables that lived in Paris at the time; examples, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein.

Oct. 29, 1929: Stock Market crashed which contributed to the start of the Great Depression---

Black Tuesday

The economic boom of the 20s set the stage for the Great Depression that would dominate the 30s.

21st Amendment--- repealed the 18th Amendment---up to the states to legalized alcohol; Feb. 20 1933

The American Dream: originally about discovery individualism, and the pursuit of happiness. Implies successful and satisfying life, financial security and material comforts.

Many authors criticized and satirized the hypocrisy and greed they observed in America’s empty pursuit of wealth and luxury. Thus, the idea that the American dream had become corrupt by the empty pursuit of wealth is a theme that runs through many novels from this time period.

Nick Carraway -  The novel’s narrator, Nick is a young man from Minnesota who, after being educated at Yale and fighting in World War I, goes to New York City to learn the bond business. Honest, tolerant, and inclined to reserve judgment, Nick often serves as a confidant for those with troubling secrets.  Daisy’s cousin. 

Jay Gatsby -  The title character and protagonist of the novel, Gatsby is a fabulously wealthy young man living in a Gothic mansion in West Egg. He is famous for the lavish parties he throws every Saturday night, but no one knows where he comes from, what he does, or how he made his fortune.Daisy Buchanan -  Nick’s cousin, and the woman Gatsby loves. Married to Tom Buchanan. Tom Buchanan -  Daisy’s immensely wealthy husband, once a member of Nick’s social club at Yale. Powerfully built and hailing from a socially solid old family, Tom is an arrogant, hypocritical bully. Jordan Baker -  Daisy’s friend, a woman with whom Nick becomes romantically involved during the course of the novel. A competitive golfer, Jordan represents one of the “new women” of the 1920s—cynical, boyish, and self-centered.

Myrtle Wilson -  Tom’s lover, whose lifeless husband George owns a run-down garage in the valley of ashes. Myrtle herself possesses a fierce vitality and desperately looks for a way to improve her situation.

George Wilson -  Myrtle’s husband, the lifeless, exhausted owner of a run-down auto shop at the edge of the valley of ashes. George loves and idealizes Myrtle, and is devastated by her affair with Tom

Klipspringer -  The shallow freeloader who seems almost to live at Gatsby’s mansion, taking advantage of his host’s money.

East Egg: Old Money- where Tom and Daisy liveWest Egg: New Money- where Gatsby lives

Is anyone still writing?Setting for The Great Gatsby:The story takes place outside of New York City- in what is known as Long Island or the Hamptons. However, in the book, they are called East and West Egg.

East Egg: People with old money live there- in other words, money that has been inherited through many generations. People from old money do not show off their money. They also have many hidden rules that go with their class. Therefore, if you are not born into old money, you can’t fit in. West Egg: where people from new money live. New money means that you’ve either earned it yourself or it’s only one generation back. These people show off their money- flashy behavior (think Russell Simmons’ gold toilet). They want to fit in with old money, but old money looks down on them.