Changes In The Great Gatsby

After World War I, the United States went through a phase of utmost economic and social change. There was a lot of crime and many thought the reason for this was alcohol. The government established the 18th amendment, which made it illegal to consume and produce alcohol. Even this did not stop people from partying and drinking. This period of time was known as the Roaring Twenties. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the character Jay Gatsby is also involved in this shady business. Throughout the novel, more and more problems arose for Gatsby. Criminals engaged in bootlegging during the Prohibition by illegally selling alcohol, which led to more criminal activity and conflicts within society. This unlawful activity is also reflected

Jay Gatsby’s shady business is seen in The Great Gatsby and highlights how affiliating with illegal activities can lead to immense wealth but also conflicts with others. One of the main businesses selling alcohol was through drugstores. They were stationed all through Chicago, Illinois and other major cities. It was common to import liquor from other countries and have them send it over the river between Detroit and Canada. In the article “Bootlegging,” many pharmacies applied for a liquor license so they too could sell alcohol. From doing this, a number of people “lived a lavish lifestyle, and amassed a $5 million fortune” (Batchelor 503). With a number of these illicit businesses, many people have gained huge amounts of wealth. They bequeathed this money down for generations. This is similar to how Tom obtained his wealth. Gatsby, on the other hand, actually got involved in bootlegging. When Tom confronted him about how the, “drug-store business was just a small change,” continued Tom slowly, “but you’ve got something on now that Walter’s afraid to tell me about.’” I glanced at Daisy, who was staring terrified between Gatsby and her husband” (Fitzgerald