The Great Gatsby Analysis

The 1920’s was also known as The Roaring 20’s or the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald’s depiction of this time in history is expressed clearly in The Great Gatsby. The Jazz Age was post World War I, as well as the beginning of the women’s suffrage and prohibition. Flappers were commonly found throughout the city and at many of the extravagant parties, such as Gatsby’s house parties. Wealthy citizens would spend their money carelessly while the lower class struggled to make money in order to afford daily necessities. Fitzgerald talks about both ends of society and ties them together all in one during his writing of The Great Gatsby. Gatsby’s parties are claimed to be the best of the best. Hundreds of people attend all high class, to experience the extravagant commodities. As the high class appears to be living the American dream, Fitzgerald’s drives into the city, exposing the lowest of the classes: coal miners, mechanics, and the homeless. This is another way Fitzgerald uses his novel, The Great Gatsby to validate the differences between society in relation to class and wealth.

While some praised Fitzgerald for his realistic qualities in his character, others saw it as just another American novel, nothing extraordinary. Most critics applauded Fitzgerald’s work and his interpretation of the 1920’s. Fitzgerald demonstrates the selfishness of individuals in the 1920’s. This selfish behavior was aimed towards achieving one goal, the American Dream. He too lived through, this time, basing many of the scenes from The Great Gatsby off his own personal experiences. One critic, Ruth Hale of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, said: “Find me one chemical trace of magic, life irony romance or mysticism in all The Great Gatsby, and I will bind myself to read one Scott Fitzgerald book a week for the rest of my