"The Great Gatsby"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the history of the United States during the 20th century as being one of upheaval, desperation, affluence, and wars. According to the essay, one of the most fascinating eras during this stormy century is the 1920s, also known as the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age. This is the focus of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby". In this novel, the character of Daisy represents the spirit of this wild decade. As the socialite of the novel, she attends all the parties she can and acts as Gatsby's constant companion. However, she is also representative of how unhappy even the rich could be when finally realizing that the meaning of life could not be found only by partying. In this, Fitzgerald created the classic American novel that addresses the particular themes that were prevalent during the 1920s. Indeed, Fitzgerald's own life could be seen as a case study serving as a model for the novel.

From the Paper:

"The affluence during this time also led to a boost in consumerism (Wright, 2000). Competition between manufacturers increased, with radio and print advertising reaching new heights. Automobiles became important elements of family life and also of Fitzgerald's novels. As such, they were symbols of the prosperity of the time. Perhaps the basic shallowness of the lifestyle during this time with its fleeting pleasures serves a prophetic function in terms of the Great Depression to come. This initial excitement and later disillusion can be seen in the parallels between of the era with both Gatsby's story and Fitzgerald's life. The characters at the beginning of the novel are optimistic and happy, enjoying their wealth and free time. As they move through the novel, their disillusionment with the inadequacy and shallowness of their lifestyle becomes increasingly obvious. The same happens for Fitzgerald himself.
"According to Matthew J. Bruccoli's brief biography (1994), Fitzgerald began his career as writer by submitting stories to mass-circulation magazines in 1919. There is a poetic significance in this beginning. His career begins with a sense of optimism and success, like the 1920s, and like Gatsby's story. During this time, The Saturday Evening Post was his best market, for which Fitzgerald's stories often featured the character of an independent, determined young American woman. This was a suitable preliminary to Fitzgerald's sudden success during 1920."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bruccoli, Matthew J. (1994). A Brief Life of Fitzgerald. From F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Life in Letters, ed. Bruccoli with the assistance of Judith S. Baughman. New York: Scribners. http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.html
• University of South Carolina (2003, Dec 4). Fitzgerald Chronology. http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/chronology.html
• Wright, Sarah. (2000). Modern American Literature: History. University of North Carolina. http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/lit/amauth/spg2002/modern.htm

More papers on "The Great Gatsby":

• Book Review # 36769 : "The Great Gatsby" and 1920s Lifestyle"
• Analytical Essay # 117531 : "A Contemporary Review of "The Great Gatsby"
• Book Review # 33819 : "The Great Gatsby" and Materialism"
• Book Review # 126306 : "'The Great Gatsby' and the American Dream"

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