The Influence of the Jazz Age and Prohibition on the Events and Characters in The Great Gatsby
The Influence of the Jazz Age and Prohibition on the Events and Characters in The Great Gatsby
The Jazz Age, a period of cultural and social transformation in 1920s America, plays a pivotal role in shaping the events and characters of The Great Gatsby. The novel captures the exuberance, excess, and moral ambiguity of the time, particularly through its depiction of wealth, parties, and the pursuit of pleasure. Prohibition, which outlawed the sale of alcohol, further influences the behavior of the characters, particularly Jay Gatsby, who builds his fortune through illegal means to fund his extravagant lifestyle.
Gatsby’s rise to wealth is symbolic of the larger societal shifts occurring during the Jazz Age, when traditional moral values were replaced by a focus on instant gratification, social mobility, and material success. His parties, filled with illegal liquor and excessive displays of wealth, embody the excesses of the era, where people sought to escape the harsh realities of the world by indulging in hedonistic pleasures. The illicit means through which Gatsby achieves his wealth—through bootlegging and organized crime—are indicative of the widespread disregard for law and ethics during Prohibition.
In addition to the moral decay and materialism, the Jazz Age’s influence on the characters of The Great Gatsby also manifests in their personal relationships. Daisy and Tom’s marriage is marked by a lack of genuine emotional connection, and Gatsby’s obsession with recreating the past with Daisy leads to his ultimate downfall. The Jazz Age’s emphasis on fleeting pleasure and instant gratification, rather than lasting personal values, drives the characters toward self-destruction.
Fitzgerald uses the context of the Jazz Age and Prohibition to critique the emptiness and moral collapse beneath the surface of the American Dream, showing how the pursuit of wealth and pleasure without regard for deeper values leads to tragedy and disillusionment.
These articles explore critical themes, characters, and symbols in The Great Gatsby, providing a thorough analysis of the novel’s exploration of class, race, ambition, love, and the American Dream. Let me know if you need further elaboration or additional descriptions!
