Consumerism In The Great Gatsby

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During the Roaring Twenties of the “Jazz Age”, the economy was booming and many were celebrating the end of World War I. Many were giving into consumerism, bending the rules of fashion, and throwing lavish parties. F. Scott Fitzgerald was very involved with his writing during this time, while writing The Great Gatsby, he was able to portray that time period throughout. “Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald as a… novelist considered on of the pre- eminent authors in the history of American literature due… to… his third book, The Great Gatsby… the quintessential American novel, as well as a definitive social history of the Jazz Age…” (“F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography”). In The Great Gatsby our narrator Nick Carraway, moves to West Egg (outside of New York City) in 1922 and meets a man by the name of Jay Gatsby. Also, across from them is Nick’s cousin, Daisy and her husband, Tom. Gatsby is known for throwing lavish parties, but no one knows much about him. Nick and Gatsby become more involved with each other and finds out the reason for Gatsby’s big parties. Gatsby throws these parties to get Daisy to eventually show up because of their past relationship. However, Daisy is in a poor marriage with Tom and Gatsby hopes he can win Daisy back. It ends with Daisy staying with Tom and Gatsby ends up accidentally dead because of Daisy and Tom’s actions. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbols: the green light, the valley of ashes, and Doctor T. J. Eckleburg to represent more important aspects of the