The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

The 1920s and the The 1920s and the American DreamAmerican Dream

The 20s: an age of The 20s: an age of transitiontransitionWorld War I and After

"The world must be made safe for democracy," Woodrow Wilson the President had declared, "Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundation of political liberty." --- a Spirit of Idealism. Americans entered the war in 1917.

A general disillusionment among the people caused nervousness: racism, intolerance, violence, Ku Klux Klan, political intolerance-- “Ghost of Bolshevism" behind every form of social protest / strikes.

•1922 Foreign policy of Isolationism •1929 Stock Market Crash •1932 New Deal Era

Roaring TwentiesRoaring Twenties

• Economy boomingEconomy booming

• America partiedAmerica partied

• Organized crimeOrganized crime

• Prohibition Act Prohibition Act

• Decline of moral standardsDecline of moral standards

OPTIMISMOPTIMISM

• Business, change and innovation, laissez faire- Business, change and innovation, laissez faire- economyeconomy

• Rapid growth of industry and mechanization: Rapid growth of industry and mechanization: unlimited progress unlimited progress effecting an even wider distribution of the effecting an even wider distribution of the blessing of civilizations : electricity; blessing of civilizations : electricity; automobileautomobile

• Even skeptics believe in progress and in Even skeptics believe in progress and in solving of problems: new" Golden Age" for solving of problems: new" Golden Age" for AmericaAmerica

CRITICSCRITICS

• They called the decade "decline and They called the decade "decline and degradation." degradation."

• Americans are caught up in a "surge of Americans are caught up in a "surge of materialism“; people failed to grasp the materialism“; people failed to grasp the meaning and significance of life.meaning and significance of life.

• They feel disillusioned or disenchanted; They feel disillusioned or disenchanted; they lost faith in life and in the possibility they lost faith in life and in the possibility of social progress, which caused their of social progress, which caused their absolute lack of interest in politics.absolute lack of interest in politics.

SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE OF SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE OF CHANGECHANGE• relaxing of structures within the relaxing of structures within the

sphere of private and public moralitysphere of private and public morality

• relationship between the sexesrelationship between the sexes

• change of the status of women change of the status of women

SPIRITSPIRIT OF THE 20sOF THE 20s

• urbanization and the move away from urbanization and the move away from the landthe land

• fascination with the dream of successfascination with the dream of success• development of the cinema as a development of the cinema as a

medium of entertainmentmedium of entertainment• popularity of jazzpopularity of jazz• increased mobility brought about by the increased mobility brought about by the

mass produced automobile mass produced automobile

PROHIBITIONPROHIBITION• The 18th Amendment(1919)prohibited the sale The 18th Amendment(1919)prohibited the sale

and consumption of alcohol.and consumption of alcohol.• Although alcohol was illegal, it was distributed Although alcohol was illegal, it was distributed

through" bootleggers."through" bootleggers."• Bootlegging means the production and sale of Bootlegging means the production and sale of

liquor.liquor.• Alcohol was served in illegal night-clubs which Alcohol was served in illegal night-clubs which

were called "speakeasies." were called "speakeasies." • It was the time of famous gangsters like Al It was the time of famous gangsters like Al

Capone and events like the St. Valentine's Day Capone and events like the St. Valentine's Day massacre happened. During that time the massacre happened. During that time the Mafia became important in American society.Mafia became important in American society.

PROHIBITIONPROHIBITION

THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMENWOMEN• The 19th Amendment(1920) gave women the right The 19th Amendment(1920) gave women the right to vote.to vote.

• During the Twenties 9 million women were During the Twenties 9 million women were employed and earned money on their own; many employed and earned money on their own; many younger women used their money to enjoy younger women used their money to enjoy themselves. themselves.

• Women bobbed their hair.Women bobbed their hair.• They were able to drink and smoke in public. For They were able to drink and smoke in public. For

the first time, female alcoholism is a major problem.the first time, female alcoholism is a major problem.• The liberated young women were called" flappers." The liberated young women were called" flappers."

In In The Great Gatsby,The Great Gatsby, Jordan Baker is such a new Jordan Baker is such a new type of woman. She is living alone and has equal type of woman. She is living alone and has equal relationships to men. She is self-confident in dealing relationships to men. She is self-confident in dealing with others. Tom comments on her new freedom as with others. Tom comments on her new freedom as a woman.a woman.

Flapper Culture and StyleFlapper Culture and Style

HARLEM MOVEMENTHARLEM MOVEMENT

Southern gentle lady, Southern gentle lady, Do not swoon. Do not swoon. They've just hung a They've just hung a black man black man In the dark of the moon. In the dark of the moon. They've hung a black They've hung a black man man To the roadside tree To the roadside tree In the dark of the moon In the dark of the moon For the world to see For the world to see

How Dixie protects Its white womanhood Southern gentle lady, Be good! Be good!

Silhouette by Langston Hughes

FACTS ABOUT THE DECADEFACTS ABOUT THE DECADE

• 106,521,537 people in the United States 106,521,537 people in the United States • 2,132,000 unemployed, Unemployment 5.2% 2,132,000 unemployed, Unemployment 5.2% • Life expectancy: Male 53.6, Female 54.6 Life expectancy: Male 53.6, Female 54.6 • 343,000 in military (down from 1,172,601 in 1919) 343,000 in military (down from 1,172,601 in 1919) • Average annual earnings $1236; Teacher's salary Average annual earnings $1236; Teacher's salary

$970 $970 • Dow Jones High 100 Low 67 Dow Jones High 100 Low 67 • Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the

population. population. • Gangland crime included murder, swindles, Gangland crime included murder, swindles,

racketeering racketeering • It took 13 days to reach California from New York. It took 13 days to reach California from New York.

There were 387,000 miles of paved road. There were 387,000 miles of paved road.

Who was F. Scott Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?Fitzgerald?• Born in 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota.Born in 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

• He attended Princeton University.He attended Princeton University.

• 1917 joined the army.1917 joined the army.

• Met his wife Zelda.Met his wife Zelda.

• Published Published The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby at 23 in 1925. at 23 in 1925.

• Regarded as the Speaker of the Jazz Age.Regarded as the Speaker of the Jazz Age.

• Drinking and wife’s schizophrenia Drinking and wife’s schizophrenia

• Died in 1940. Died in 1940.

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM?DREAM?

• It describes an attitude of hope and It describes an attitude of hope and faith that looks forward to the faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and fulfillment of human wishes and desires.desires.

““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL IMPROVEMENTIMPROVEMENT

• Materialism achieved too quickly.Materialism achieved too quickly.

• Thus, lacking spiritual life/purpose.Thus, lacking spiritual life/purpose.

• Gatsby is a character that represents Gatsby is a character that represents this DREAM.this DREAM.

THE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAM

FAILURE OF THE AMERICAN FAILURE OF THE AMERICAN DREAMDREAM

• PovertyPoverty

• DiscriminationDiscrimination

• ExploitationExploitation

• HypocrisyHypocrisy

• CorruptionCorruption

• SuppressionSuppression

How is this developed?How is this developed?

• Through the five central charactersThrough the five central characters

• Through certain dominant images Through certain dominant images and symbolsand symbols

• Through diction.Through diction.

Pre-reading:       Pre-reading:       1.Why are we still reading a book written in the 1.Why are we still reading a book written in the

1920’s? What gives a book its longevity? 1920’s? What gives a book its longevity? 2.How was the 1920’s a reaction to WWI? 2.How was the 1920’s a reaction to WWI? 3.Some people think that having money leads to 3.Some people think that having money leads to

happiness. Do you agree? Why or why not? happiness. Do you agree? Why or why not? What are the advantages or disadvantages of What are the advantages or disadvantages of being wealthy. being wealthy.

4.What is the "American Dream"? Where did it 4.What is the "American Dream"? Where did it originate, and how has it changed over the originate, and how has it changed over the centuries? centuries?

5.Have you ever wanted to relive a moment 5.Have you ever wanted to relive a moment from your past, to redo it? Describe the from your past, to redo it? Describe the situation. How and why would you change the situation. How and why would you change the past?past?

cvip.fresno.com/~jsh33/roar.html

harley_roaring_twenties.htm

www.eliteskills.com/

www.cas.utulsa.edu/english/.../the_great_gatsby.html

www.tqnyc.org/NYC040522/.../gatsbychapter9.htm

school.discovery.com/.../greatbooks-greatgatsby

www.refocus-now.com/stock/raphaelLibert/index2.htm

www.dalcohomesew.com/antiquecars/gatsby.htm

faculty.ehshouston.org/.../Great%20Gatsby%20WEB%20P...