ipl-logo

Prohibition In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

3743 Words15 Pages

Great Gatsby is a reflection of the hedonistic period of the roaring 20’s, when America’s surging economic prosperity compelled a generation of lavish parties, pleasure-seeking, and recklessness. In frame with this new found opulence emerged the prohibition experiment, which under the 18th amendment, banned the consumption of alcohol. However, the congress' new investment soon took a turn in a felonious direction. Prior to the prohibition, liquor ran like water and nearly three gallons of alcohol was consumed by an individual, annually. Alcohol flowed like honey and spread freely to every American, turning the United States into an alcohol-addicted nation. So when the sudden prohibition of what was essentially “America’s water” occurred and …show more content…

During the time period in which “The Great Gatsby” was written, prohibition was set in order to protect individuals and families from “the scourge of drunkenness”. According to Merriem Webster, “Prohibition is the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors except for medicinal and sacramental purposes.” (Webster, 2024) Back then, alcohol was and still is a dangerous substance, and drunkenness proved unholy and abusable. For instance, in Galatians 5 verse 19-21 it states, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (NIV Bible, Galatians 5:19-21) For thousands of years, the Bible has served as the guideline to determine the righteousness of an act and has set the rules of morality for human beings. To elaborate, the main source of truth (the Bible) has denounced drunkenness, so it is apparent that the overdose of alcohol in the novel proves a sinful nature that is unquestionably virtueless. Nevertheless, many non-believers might have concerns about the validity of the statement as they themselves do not believe in the Bible and cannot prove the truth of the Word. But the Bible has been supported by many, living human beings, who have shaped the world. Such as famed philosopher and political theorist John Locke, whom in the 1700s stated, “It [the Bible] is all pure, all sincere; nothing too much, nothing wanting; but such a complete Rule of Life, as the wisest Men must acknowledge, tends entirely to the Good of Mankind, and that all would be happy, if all would practice it.” (Locke, 1727, p. 536) Furthermore, even Sir Isaac Newton has backed the Bible, when

Show More
Related

How Is Prohibition Shown In The Great Gatsby

1358 Words | 6 Pages

The Great gatsby is the story of several characters who try to accomplish the American dream and live a carefree lifestyle. Three characters who embody this movent are Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, and Daisy. The live through illusions to escape their realities and try to impress one another with their riches, or devotion to each other. Fitzgerald uses these characters to represent some of the real life illusion of the time such as gender equality, achieving american dream through climbing the social ladder, and returning to a moral code like laws of prohibition. II.

Read More

The Great Gatsby Dbq Essay

671 Words | 3 Pages

During the 1920’s, many people were power-hungry. They all wanted to be at the top and be the richest of the rich and be able to buy whatever they want. The 1920’s was a time where people were able to go from rags to riches, industries were growing and making money, and it was also the era of the Prohibition, a law that banned alcohol. “The Great Gatsby” was able to reflect on noticeable and non-noticeable aspects of the 1920’s. It reflects on the postwar disillusionment, the rise of the nouveau riche, and how business became the new religion for the United States.

Read More

Tom's Treatment Of Women In The Great Gatsby

494 Words | 2 Pages

Although Prohibition was intended to get rid of the temptation of liquor, it had the unintended effect of turning many honest people into criminals. By excluding liquor from society, the government without knowing made it even more desirable, something enthusiastic customers had to get. No other book captures this untamed and happy-go-lucky period to the exact extent like Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. Throughout the novel Gatsby, have extravagant parties.

Read More

Prohibition In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

777 Words | 4 Pages

The 1920s was a time of new industries, flappers, prohibition, and money. While reading The Great Gatsby I often picked up on how money affected the characters actions and values. The characters were often obsessed with the idea of love and money. I think they often confused the two, causing lots of conflicts for all the characters involved. The text is heavily influence by how the characters lived lives of few consequences and had big dreams of acquiring love and money.

Read More

Prohibition In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

638 Words | 3 Pages

What happens when you grab onto the American dream and it slips right out of your hands like rain in a summer? This book takes place in the 1920’s and this is where prohibition is the worst and there are many flappers who are women who are energetic for their freedom. In the book The Great Gatsby, American Dream is one of the main themes, and Jay Gatsby portrays this theme throughout the book the most. While the book had a dark ending, the tone of the book starts off more positive. Gatsby is the protagonist, and he takes the idea of achieving the American dream.

Read More

What Are The Causes Of Prohibition In The Progressive Era

1197 Words | 5 Pages

“Thus came prohibition to the United States. Middle-class Americans—striving to revitalize and preserve American democracy and to usher in a new era of humanity, achievement, and progress—turned to prohibition as one device to achieve their goals.” (Callow) The Prohibition was a time where in the United States the sale and consumption of alcohol was illegal from 1920-1933. It was the 18th amendment which prohibited alcohol in the United States and it states, “The manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.”

Read More

The Role Of Greed In The Great Gatsby

780 Words | 4 Pages

The nature of Gatsby’s parties greatly exhibit the sin of gluttony. Not only is there an excessive amount of food, but also liquor. People are also found in excess at these extravagant affairs. Owl Eyes, a frequent party attender, exclaims “‘Why, my God! they used to go there by the hundreds.’”

Read More

What Are The Events In The Great Gatsby

547 Words | 3 Pages

Marlon Prieto Mrs. Lauer English 05-13-2018 Gatsby Essay The events in the Great Gatsby reflect many of the social and political issues that were actually going on in the 1920s such as organized crime and women's rights. The author of the Great Gatsby uses the stories told in the book as a way to reflect the actual events that were going on at the time, that may have not been easily told outside the book. Prohibition was the act of making the selling of alcohol illegal. The U.S passed this law to try and improve public health.

Read More

Marginalization Of Women In The Great Gatsby Analysis

853 Words | 4 Pages

During the twenties the economy of the United States was changing greatly. Due to the establishment of the prohibition of alcohol the billionaires were those who would smuggle the goods to society. The Great Gatsby is a novel which portrays the different societies of the United States during the twenties differently. F. Scott Fitzgerald focuses on revealing the types of lives lived by each social group. Throughout the book we are exposed to the marginalization of women and the lower class during the time, since the important individuals in society were the wealthy people who impacted the economy of the country.

Read More

US Prohibition In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

706 Words | 3 Pages

Evan Bartley Mrs. Caniff English 11 8 May 2024 U.S. Prohibition and The Great Gatsby The 1920s in the U.S. was a time of societal change and economic growth. America was booming with prosperity as people began to leave their homes and enjoy leisurely activities. The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts these times as well as the prohibition. The prohibition of the 1920s becomes a major plot point as the author uses symbols to represent deeper meanings within the writing. These leisure activities included going to movie theaters and baseball games, as well as attending clubs and parties.

Read More

What Is Prohibition In The Great Gatsby

778 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author reveals a few aspects, of prohibition that were actually true to life in the 1920s. Prohibition in the 20’s gave a rise bootlegging, speakeasies and other underground drinking establishments. Which Fitzgerald writes about in his novel. Tom in The Great Gatsby on page 107 demands “who is this Gatsby anyhow?”........

Read More

Why Is Prohibition Important In The Great Gatsby

734 Words | 3 Pages

The following about banning liquor is said by “Tuggleb”; “This, as is the case even today with illegal industries, led to a black market and, consequently, a radical increase of citizens’ wealth who were willing to take advantage of this spiked demand.” (College of

Read More

Political Issues In The Great Gatsby Essay

862 Words | 4 Pages

A politically and socially crucial period of America’s time, The Great Gatsby succeeds in representing a society where if one is living in excess and decides to never settle down, will inevitably lead to their downfall. The 18th Amendment created the prohibition that made consuming, drinking or anything else that had to with alcohol. Nevertheless people kept on bootlegging alcohol and paid no attention to the law and had nothing to worry about because they were at the top of the food

Read More

Essay On The Effects Of Prohibition In The Great Gatsby

664 Words | 3 Pages

The only character in the novel who does not drink is, ironically, Gatsby. He devoted himself to a sober life after seeing what drinking did to his old mentor. Although these characters had unpleasant experiences with alcohol in the past they, for reasons unknown to us, continue to surround themselves with the smell, taste, and temptation that alcohol provides. In conclusion, prohibition and its effects have a lasting impact on the novel “The Great Gatsby”. It is present within the lives, attitudes, and mannerisms of all of the characters.

Read More

Literary Analysis Of The Great Gatsby

1218 Words | 5 Pages

Additionally, the book portrays Gatsby’s parties, characteristic of the 1920’s, as examples of hollow decadence. The parties were filled with alcohol (which at the time was an illegal substance), dancing, rich

Read More

More about Prohibition In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Open Document