The roaring 20’s, commonly portrayed as the years full of jazz, the over purchase of Model-T Fords, and the development of the delicious PEZ candy. Yet, one of the most important events of the decade had a huge role in the story The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This event being prohibition, the ban of the manufacturing and selling of alcohol that lasted from 1920 to 1933. Fitzgerald's novel took place in the summer of 1922, when alcohol was high in demand and those who could get there hands on it were likely to have the wealth most dreamed of. Jay Gatsby received his glamorous lifestyle from the illegal act of bootlegging in the prohibition era; alcohol is seen throughout the novel showing the superiority of the wealthy people thinking …show more content…
In result, the bootleggers that supply the alcohol got rich, fast. A man from old money, Tom, made the comment that “a lot of these new rich people are just big bootleggers” capitalizing on the fact that men like Gatsby found wealth in the prohibition and used it to there quick advantage(pg.118 Fitzgerald). Old money, or the East egg, has had money throughout generations. West egg is those who are just now requiring wealth. Therefore, Tom assumed the dirty work of those inhabiting west egg compared to his classy side of the system. Gatsby longed to be popular and host parties of the ages, he would allow his guests to drink, “champagne was served in glasses bigger than finger-bowls”(pg.460 Fitzgerald) which created the want to always attend his parties. Not only was he supplying the alcohol, but he was not shy at the amount he served. A mansion that always supplies alcohol when otherwise you may not get your hands on it, who wouldn't want to be friends with the homeowner. In the novel, prohibition is but a mere background figure that explains the series of events that take place in The Great Gatsby. It lead to gatsby's wealth, and truly shows that the wealthier class believes it is above the law with their constant drinking and drunk parties. Alcohol affected each character differently in the novel, we learn that because of the observation of the detrimental effects of alcohol, Gatsby himself does not drink, though