Effects Of Prohibition In The Great Gatsby

Intoxicating The Great Gatsby Throughout time there have been laws that have been enacted and repealed countless times. Some of them have had greater effects on society than others. One thing that has been said over and still is argued over in current day politics is the presence of alcohol in our world. Although many people do not know what it is like to drink alcohol or to be drunk, there is plenty of information and media around to know what it can do to you. As stated in a very popular Brad Paisley song, “You’ll have some of the best times you'll never remember with me. Alcohol.” This particular song lyric describes the entire social scene during the Prohibition and Jazz Era, especially in the classic novel, The Great Gatsby.

Even though it was enacted in January of 1920, it never truly was enforced thoroughly or really out into action. The entire prohibition ended up creating a big increase in illegal activities. The start of illegal manufacturing began due to the fact that the need for alcohol was at an all-time high. Many people wanting to achieve their own American Dream looked for a way to fund their efforts. "For these early moonshiners, making and selling alcohol wasn't a hobby or a way to make extra cash -- it was how they survived.”(History of Moonshine) At the time, you could achieve the “big bucks” in the manufacturing and sale of illegal liquor. The actual product manufactured when making illegal alcohol can often be referred to as “moonshine” (History of Moonshine). After the product was made and ready to be sold, the role of bootleggers came into play. Bootlegging is defined as “to make, distribute, or sell (illicit goods, esp. liquor, computer software, or recordings) illegally” (Bootlegging). Although the 18th amendment banned the production and sale of alcohol, like many laws, there was a loophole. It never said anything about the possession and consumption of liquor. This created a huge grey area in the law and created the window for corrupt activity and schemes. The Volstead Act was created for the enforcement of the prohibition,

“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars” (Fitzgerald 43). Gatsby was a true West Egg resident. West Egg was where all the “new money” inhabitants resided. Even though they were rich and had nice material belongings, their wild, party nature was nothing like the so called classy East Eggers. East Egg residents were born into their money so they had been raised with very high social standards in them. Jay Gatsby never started out as a man of money, but he acquired a taste of the other side through his very rich friend and mentor, Dan Cody. Gatsby was supposed to inherit Cody’s money after his death, but his mistress made sure she received all of it (Fitzgerald 107). While Gatsby strived to become rich, he ran into an all or nothing business. Gatsby came into his money through one of the most popular, yet very illegal items on the market, alcohol. Jay Gatsby was indeed a bootlegger, but not the typical alley dealer, but one on a much more magnificent scale. He worked with a man named Meyer Wolfshiem who was known to fix the 1919 World Series, showing how corrupt someone had to be in this risky business. Together they worked through pharmacies selling alcohol. Although illegal, for a small fee, doctors would prescribe patients whiskey for just about any illness, and sometimes for no reason at all.