Why The Great Gatsby A Banned Book

The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, is a story narrated by Nick Carraway about his experiences interacting with Jay Gatsby during 1922. The book starts during Nick’s move from the Midwest to West Egg, a suburb outside of New York City, to become a bond salesman. Shortly after Nick’s arrival, he visits his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan across the bay at East Egg. While at Daisy and Tom’s house, Nick meets professional golfer Jordan Baker, who asks him if he knows Gatsby. Nick has heard a lot about the mysterious Gatsby, but has never met him. Tom, who went to Yale, invites Nick to go into the city to attend a “Yale Club meeting”, but they were really meeting Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Just a couple days

In the 1920s, a constitutional amendment banned all alcohol sales. America had developed many strict social laws and any small reference to sexual activity, adultery, the use of alcohol, or profanity was widely frowned upon. Although many of these activities seem minor in present day, in the 1920s, books like The Great Gatsby were considered scandalous. For example, Gatsby tells Nick that “Daisy comes over quite often--in the afternoons.” Despite seeming petty, this quote in the 1920s was considered outrageous because it could be interpreted as something sexual. Divorce was uncommon during this socially strict environment. Nick writes “Catherine leaned close to me and whispered in my ear, ‘If I was them I’d get a divorce and get married to each other right away.’” Although it seems that Tom and Daisy do not love each other, they would not get a divorce because it was frowned upon. They are each in another relationship because they do not truly love each other anymore. “I did love him (Tom) once—but I loved you (Gatsby) too.” Though it seems that Daisy and Tom were in love, Daisy was also in love with Gatsby. The concept of drinking alcohol during the time of Prohibition was forbidden and it was illegal to purchase alcohol. Nick says “I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon.” This shows that the characters in the book were purchasing alcohol illegally. The common misconceptions about Jay Gatsby are generated because no one knows his background. Gatsby lies often in order to make himself look better. “My family all died and I came into a great deal of money.” Gatsby lied to Nick about his past to make himself look better. “His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people — his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all. The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang