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Example research essay topic: Roaring Twenties American Dream - 1,411 words

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Amidst the exceedingly prosperous decade of the 1920 s, traditional American lifestyles and principles were interjected by the new superficial and materialistic beliefs closely associated with The Roaring Twenties. Undoubtedly, the 1920 s were a decade of change. Deteriorating moralities and optimistic beliefs of overnight wealth replaced strict traditional views on religion, family structure, and work ethics. In an era of such high optimism, the pioneering spirit of the American Dream was revitalized.

The nouveaux riches often clashed with the established wealth, as evident throughout F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. Fitzgeralds narrator, Nick Carraway, suddenly finds himself submerged in the paper-thin morals, and shallow values of upper-class New York after migrating from the Western interior. Throughout the novel, Nick is highly cynical of American society. Thus, The Great Gatsby is Fitzgeralds means of criticizing the worsening family structure of American society, the newfound materialistic lifestyles of Americans, an American society governed by corruption, and ultimately, the paradox of the American Dream. Fitzgeralds characters and his own personal beliefs seem to suggest that he is mocking the weakness of American family life during the 1920 s.

Throughout the novel, the most prominent of Fitzgeralds characters are involved in extra marital relationships. The fact that these relationships are seen so often, clearly suggests that Fitzgerald is attempting to portray a weak bond between married couples. The weak relationship between the Buchanan couple as well as the Wilson couple are proof that. In addition, it should also be noted that Fitzgeralds relationship with his own wife, Zelda, who The Great Gatsby is dedicated to, was highly romantic and severely strong. Fitzgerald had endured to attain his love for Zelda, and was faithful to her for much of his life. However, the fact that Fitzgerald creates characters who seem to contradict his own beliefs, seem to suggest that he is making a mockery of the weak marital bond common in American society during the 1920 s.

Many of the characters in Fitzgeralds novel are portrayed as shallow and materialistic, which accurately reflects the mindset of the 1920 s. However, because Fitzgerald chooses to reveal these characters so thoroughly and frequently suggests his intentions of criticizing the superficial beliefs during that era. Undoubtedly, materialism plays a fundamental role throughout the book. Fitzgerald creates a character, Daisy, who possesses shallow values, and worships nothing but money. She likes the moving-picture actress because she has no substance... She virtually announces here [liking the actress] what her criteria of human emotions and conduct are. (Bailey, 133) As Gatsby claims, Her voice is full of money (115) Daisy, who is the one of the most prominent characters in the novel, is merely an egotistical fool that Fitzgerald has created in order to portray the attitudes of the era.

However, Daisy is only the first of a long list of superficial characters created by Fitzgerald. During the beginning of Chapter IV, Fitzgerald imposes a large and elaborately comprehensive list of guests attending Gatsby's parties. He states, All these people came to Gatsby's house in the summer. (62) Nevertheless, Fitzgerald later emphasizes the fact that these people were using Gatsby's mansion merely for its hospitality, and for nothing else. This becomes evident when only a single person attending Gatsby's parties arrived at his funeral. Through this, Fitzgerald reveals the lack of loyalty, and gratitude in the 1920 s, and ultimately, the superficiality of all the characters. Therefore, through his elaborately detailed selfish characters, Fitzgerald criticizes the shallowness and materialism so apparent during the 1920 s.

Fitzgerald illustrates the corruption that accompanies power and wealth throughout the entirety of the novel. He first demonstrates the influence of wealth during Nick and Gatsby's trip to New York where a police officer stops Gatsby. In return, Gatsby produces a white card from his pocket, whereupon the officer claims, Right you are. Know you next time, Mr. Gatsby. Excuse me. (67) Through this encounter, Fitzgerald reveals the amount of power Gatsby possesses, but more importantly, he exposes the control which accompanies wealth and social status.

Fitzgerald also reveals the corruption in American society, this time making specific reference to a non-fictional event- the 1919 World Series. Upon hearing that Meyer Wolfshiem was the gambler who fixed the Worlds Series, Nick inquires, Fixed the Worlds Series? I repeated. The idea staggered me...

How did he happen to do that? I asked after a minute. He just saw the opportunity. Why isnt he in jail? They cant get him, old sport. Hes a smart man. (71 - 2) Fitzgerald acknowledges the corruption in American society, and questions why it cannot be stopped.

He realizes that money has enabled people to do as they please, in Wolfshiems case; it allowed him to play with the faith of fifty million people- with the single mindset of a burglar blowing a safe. Fitzgerald later verifies the position social status and wealth play in American society, They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. (170) Although Daisy was directly responsible for Myrtles death, while Tom had initiated Gatsby's murder, both were able to escape responsibility because of their vast fortunes and social status. This demonstrates Fitzgeralds understanding as well as his critical view on American wealth; money and power can prevail over justice. Perhaps Fitzgeralds most important criticism however, is his view on the paradox of the American Dream.

The last words that Fitzgerald writes are: He [Gatsby] had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night. Gatsby believed in the green light, the organic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further... And one fine morning- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. (171 - 2) In this short but important prose, Fitzgerald criticizes that an American Dream as nothing more than a green light that can never be attained. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatz's original American Dream while fishing along the banks of Lake Superior, was wealth and social status.

By basing his entire existence on fulfilling his American Dream, Gatz became infatuated by what he lacked, instead of what he possessed. This is evident when he finally gained his vast amounts of fortunes he so desired, yet, he still feels unfulfilled without Daisy. Thus, Fitzgerald reveals that the very essence of an American Dream is that the dream itself is fueled by the fulfillment of a fantasy that can never be accomplished. Although Gatz had an American Dream, the dream could never be fulfilled, as the fantasy created by Gatz was the same force responsible for making the dream unattainable. Therefore, through the actions of Gatz, Fitzgerald is able to reveal the vast emptiness and lack of fulfillment that accomplice pursuing an American Dream.

The Great Gatsby can be considered a criticism of the deteriorating of American family structure, the shallowness of American materialism, the power of corruption, and the emptiness of pursuing an American Dream during the decade of the Roaring Twenties. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald illustrates the problems in society during the 1920 s. He criticizes the worsening of family structure by choosing characters that have little or no value of the bond accepted during marriage. He questions the power that accompanies wealth, and reveals the shallow values of the era.

Finally, Fitzgerald denounces the pursuing of an American Dream, suggesting that it is unattainable, and merely a fantasy fuelled by the urge to fulfill it. However, he acknowledges its importance to American society. The Great Gatsby is not considered the great American novel solely because it criticizes the lifestyles of the 1920 s, instead, it can be considered a success because it reveals the true meaning of pursuing an American Dream. It presents the idea that an American Dream is not a dream of prosperity, but a dream of perseverance, because the dream will always beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. (172)


Free research essays on topics related to: roaring twenties, american society, gatsby parties, american dream, great gatsby

Research essay sample on Roaring Twenties American Dream

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