In Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the perceptions and actions of people were altered because of events from one of the rowdiest periods in American history. The time period in which this novel was written was in the 1920s, which revealed the time of bad manners, new riches , and poverty for the lower classes. The reasons for this change in the younger generation is the fact that World War one recently ended and created a time of opportunity to go from rags to riches such as the case of Gatsby. Yet, this wasn't the story for everyone as seen in the characters Myrtle and Wilson. Therefore, The Great Gatsby turns America from the 1920s into a novel that reflects the altered economic and social positions. Once the war was over the attitude …show more content…
Fitzgerald explains this through the introduction of the valley of ashes, a poverty stricken area of “gray land” that includes “ the eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg” (Doc. F). The people in this area such as Myrtle weren't rich but wanted to be and used loud colors or patterns to seem as something they weren't. Likewise, the mention of the sign represents that “God” was watching all the Caucasus going on (Doc. F).Despite this fact, the 1920s was a prosperous age in which many Americans came to enjoy the blessings of consumerism and excess. The perception of the American Dream was that an individual can achieve success in life regardless of family history or social status if they only work hard enough, but his wasn't always the case. Therefore, Fitzgerald used the different locations and social positions of characters to reflect the 1920s in his novel. The Great Gatsby to a large extent reflects the 1920s as the decade of exciting social changes and prosperity. From Word War one to the great depression everyday decisions were interpreted differently compared with to the past due to the occurrences that altered American