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What Makes The Great Gatsby Successful

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A general consensus throughout history has been that the popularization and acceptance of a certain culture is subject what is popular and viable at the time. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, during the 1920’s, is a classic American story about a man named Jay Gatsby, who sought out his perception of the American dream. His endeavor to get the girl he loved and to achieve an extravagant lifestyle lead to his demise. Furthermore, the reader is supposed to sympathize with the character because he exemplified the struggle of a normal man who ultimately accomplished nothing. Even though, he was one of very few who had any ambition whatsoever when compared to the other characters. However Gatsby’s background was not explicitly stated; James Gatz, as he was actually named, was …show more content…

The actions of Prohibition, closed large industries in numerous cities and devastated the brewing industry (Speakeasies). The law left thousands of workers unemployed, additionally, there was a steep decline in the entertainment industries. Subsequently, Many American mafias took advantage of the conditions set forth by the 18th amendment,by selling illegal alcohol to the public. Moreover, the gangs were able to sell to the public through having no competition, resulting from brewery and amusement industries being in decline.This all resulted in major success for those who participated in selling illegal alcohol, Al Capone, the infamous gangster, reportedly earned up to 60 million dollars a year. The increase in alcohol consumption during the Prohibition era from up to 60 to 70 percent compared to its pre prohibition level also corresponded to the success of Mafias (Krueger). The amount of success that Mafias experienced during the 1920s made the view of organized crime popular, because of how attractive it was for achieving success and the advantages of the

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For my ethnographic research report, I chose to study Bootleggers and gangsters during the Prohibition Era. Prohibition was a time, from 1920 to 1933, during which the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol was illegal. Supporters of Prohibition were mostly religious middle class protestant woman who felt that the United States needed to be socially reformed; therefore, they were able to convince enough lawmakers to pass the 18th amendment that essentially outlawed alcohol beverages . Although it became illegal during this era to consume alcoholic beverages, demand remained high. People felt that alcohol provided them with a way to release the tension they felt after a long hard day at work.

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Instead of lowering crimes, prohibition led to a rise of organized crime. Prohibition was hard to enforce. People turned to bootlegged alcohol , the bootlegging turned into avery lucrative business as American continued to want their alcohol. Alcohol sales were controlled by street gangs and the mafia. The illegal liquor sales brought in huge profits to the gangs selling.

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In the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author uses many differnt retorical devices to add a personal flare to his work. He uses diction, symbolism, and irony to adress many different themes. These themes include Materialism, The American Dream, and includes a sharp and biting ridicule on American society in the 1920’s. The main point of Fitzgerald, arguement is one where he sharply criticizes the Society of the time.

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820 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone loves parties, and no one throws a party like Jay Gatsby. “The Great Gatsby” is a classic novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The book acts as a commentary looking at both the American Dream and the lives of those living in 1920s America. Being written from the point of view of an American in 1920, there are some points of contention seen within. The book is heavily filled with stereotyping of Jewish characters and African American characters, while also viewing cultural bias through wealthy elitism.

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Wine grapes were selling at twenty dollars a ton at the beginning of the Prohibition Era and within the next six years that price jumped to $175 a ton, and demand was steadily increasing (Chidsey 82). However, the bootlegger was by far the chief source of booze in the Prohibition years. Organized crime didn’t begin with Prohibition; it became much better organized (Perrett 401). When Prohibition arrived, hundreds of mobsters went straight into bootlegging. They made millions on illegal traffic in liquor.

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The mobsters way of profit was found through robbery, bootlegging racketeering and extortion. Through the 1920s, there was a constant grip on society from the mobster’s hand that created a tight hold on the city’s ergonomics.(Infamous) The drinking of alcohol was illegal in the 1920s, which caused many Americans to develop hidden bars or speakeasies to drink their alcoholic beverages. While the Eighteenth “Amendment officially” banned alcohol production, many states “already” had laws prohibiting alcohol.

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Philip Furman Mr. Tambellini English III H 10 March 2023 False Greatness The unknown brings about, questions, concerns, and discourse. Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a mysterious character that few know very much about him. Throwing extravagant parties every week with stellar accommodations and performances, the attendees gossip about Gatsby’s origins.

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Organized crime existed before the 1920s however, prohibition gave way to a new organized crime under Al Capone, bootlegging, and speakeasies. A year after the 18th Amendment was passed, it was clear that it was not working well. While this did help to reduce drinking in some regions of the nation, it also helped to produce a vast, profitable industry that was now illegal to authorized businessmen and taken over by organized crime. In Chicago, the new mafia leader, Al Capone built a criminal empire based on illegal alcohol. “The idea that money can buy power was lucidly verified by gangsters such as Capone,” as illegal alcohol became as easy to acquire as legal alcohol had once been (Hales and Nikolas).

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Greatness is not a destination,striving for “greatness” is unrealistic because there is no particular time or place in your life that you become remarkable. People often find themselves unhappy because they haven't reached flawlessness. Everyday can be different, greatness is a condition that is very controllable. One can not control what life throws at them but one can control their response to the situation. Therefore, personal morals and being an overall good person lead you and others to believe that you are great.

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249 Words | 1 Pages

Editorial- Organized crime Prohibition started 1920 and ended in December 5, 1933 and increased Organized crime. Had prohibition never happened organized crime syndicates may not have become so wealthy or powerful .No discussion of organized crime in the 1920s would be complete without addressing 'Scarface' Al Capone. Alphonse Capone is undoubtedly the most recognizable gangster of the era. Born to Italian immigrants in New York City, Capone relocated to Chicago were he learned the art of racketeering, running a brothel and bootlegging.

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In the text, people at the party define Gatsby as a mysterious man, saying “somebody told me they thought he killed a man once” or “it’s more that he was a German spy during the war”. (44) With this being said in the book, it is easy to say that people don’t really know who Gatsby is and that he is very mysterious. Gatsby understands and believes in the idea of the American Dream, where success and opportunity are important factors that can shape and determine somebody’s life. Gatsby’s impressive ability to transform himself from James Gatz, a poor farm boy to Jay Gatsby, who is very wealthy and an idol to many people, shows the perseverance and limitless possibilities that not only him but many other Americans are capable

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This organized crime also gave way to “inter-gang rivalries, shootings, bombings and killings that would shape the 1920s and early ’30s. More than 1,000 people were killed in New York alone in Mob clashes during Prohibition.”

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January 17, 1920 the 18th amendment was passed in the United States, taking away the right to buy or sell alcohol. The desire for this now illegal liquid paved the way for underworld crime groups to grow in the United States, leading to gangs being formed, and the Mafia’s presence in the US. Organized crime became powerful during the 1920’s due to these groups providing people with alcohol while prohibition was in place. Before prohibition, organized crime was virtually non existent, but when prohibition came to be it gave them the capability to become what they are now. “Prohibition practically created organized crime in America,” (The Mob Museum).

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537 Words | 3 Pages

We can see how much prohibition affected the growth of organized crime in many different ways. One way prohibition affected the growth of organized crime was by creating a window for mobs and gangs to fill the want for alcohol. Another way prohibition affected the establishment’s growth was by creating a more desirable perspective of alcohol. The final effect was creating a large moneymaker for “low-life criminals”. Prohibition was a large factor in the quickly growing establishment of organized crime in the early 1900s.

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Capone’s mob was one of the many that produced and sold alcohol calling it a “growth industry”, (“Al Capone”). Prohibition was a growth industry for many, it was almost a power vacuum in a way, and gangs were all taking the opportunity to capitalize on this. People all across the country were desperate enough to break the law for a

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