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In his Jazz Age novel, The Great Gatsby, Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald portrays society as snobs who bask in the wealth of the age. The novel was written in the heart of the Jazz Age and depicts it flawlessly. After World War I, many companies that had been making war supplies returned to creating their unique products. (ELCO)? The Jazz Age was a time of prosperity, but also a time of many downfalls. It was an era of change?
a time when people began to do what they wanted to do instead of following social norms. ? (ELCO) This caused industry to " boom" , and the economy accelerated with frightening speed. Some people became very wealthy, and in Fitzgeralds novel, these are the people of the " eggs" , especially East Egg. However, some people, although not poor, were certainly what they would have considered middle class, and there was a huge gap between the two classes. (UWAC) One of the main causes of extreme wealth in the Jazz Age was the accessibility of credit. During the war people saved every penny. After the war was over, and the economy rushed into a higher level, everyone started spending extravagantly.
Credit was convenient, accessible, and widely used. (UWAC) Fitzgeralds main example of extreme wealth was Gatsby himself. The reader sees that much of Gatsby's wealth, like the rest of the worldly community, is spent frivolously. Income disparity was a characteristic that followed closely with extreme wealth. The difference between the classes at this time was significant.
As Daisy realizes the difference between herself and Gatsby, her former lover, she is overwhelmed with grief. Although she, as well as Nick, was of the middle class, her outpouring of emotion displays to the reader the differences in the wealth of the two classes. Gatsby, who believed that he was comfortable, felt uneasiness at the sight of Daisy's tears. Despite the fact that many people believe that money can make you happy, Gatsby realizes that his fortune will not win Daisy? s hand. He begins to re-evaluate all of his possessions by the amount of importance that his true love puts on them. (web) Income disparity as well as extreme wealth was common in the Jazz Age.
After World War I, the economy grew and the people, in general, prospered. Primarily Gatsby displays extreme wealth. Income disparity is shown through Gatsby's relationships with Nick and Daisy. (ELCO) Another aspect in which the novel depicts the Jazz Age is the reference to the American Dream. ? Gatsby, like Tom and Daisy, " goes East" to pursue his dream, perhaps the American Dream but, unlike them, becomes a victim and fails in his vision. ? (UWAC)?
His dream, the novel suggests, is also that of America, with its emphasis on the inherent goodness within nature, on healthy living, youth, vitality, romance, a magnanimous openness to life itself, a dream of the East which has been dreamed up in the West. ? (UWAC) Gatsby pursues the green light, the want for natural possessions, and eventually is destroyed. Daisy is the one who lures Gatsby into this drive for material. This can be seen as the possible future for America herself, which is depicted, through the actions of Gatsby. Gatsby is the perfect example of America in the jazz age. America just like Gatsby failed to look at their westward destiny and focused on the limelight of the east. UWAC (University of Wales Associate College) web Numerous pages from this site including Art, Literature, Movies, Fashion web ELCO (Eastern Lebanon County School) web
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Research essay sample on Jazz Age Middle Class
