The Great Gatsby Connection
Harlem Renaissance
“As we crossed Blackwell’s Island a limousine passed us, driven by a white chauffeur, in which sat three modish negroes, two bucks and a girl. I laughed aloud as the yolks of their eyeballs rolled toward us in haughty rivalry” (Fitzgerald 69). In the above scene, Nick is recalling the drive he had taken with Gatsby into the City, where they crossed the Queensboro Bridge and spotted a limousine filled with African Americans and marveled at the competing luxuries that inhabited Gatsby’s vehicle along with theirs. While racism is in no way extinguished at this time, a connection can still be drawn back to The Harlem Renaissance because the quote still displays how advancements in the achievements of African Americans have progressed since before times. Just like in the Harlem Renaissance how discrimination was still prominent yet the culture and appreciation of African American was on the rise, readers can see that here!
“As we crossed Blackwell’s Island a limousine passed us, driven by a white chauffeur, in which sat three modish negroes, two bucks and a girl. I laughed aloud as the yolks of their eyeballs rolled toward us in haughty rivalry” (Fitzgerald 69). In the above scene, Nick is recalling the drive he had taken with Gatsby into the City, where they crossed the Queensboro Bridge and spotted a limousine filled with African Americans and marveled at the competing luxuries that inhabited Gatsby’s vehicle along with theirs. While racism is in no way extinguished at this time, a connection can still be drawn back to The Harlem Renaissance because the quote still displays how advancements in the achievements of African Americans have progressed since before times. Just like in the Harlem Renaissance how discrimination was still prominent yet the culture and appreciation of African American was on the rise, readers can see that here!
The Cotton Club, a club in New York City that was whites only, but allowed many black musicians to perform.
The Lost Generation
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter — to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther” (Fitzgerald 182). The last page of the book well illustrates the death of the American Dream very well. The Lost Generation, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, focused on how the the people of the United States were affected by the war. One idea acknowledged all around is that the war killed the American Dream for those who still had time to achieve it. Gatsby’s green light represented everything he was trying to achieve, and the in the end he lost it anyways. Fitzgerald is trying to show the reader how many felt after the war, and how those raised and in the war had their lives drastically changed.
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter — to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther” (Fitzgerald 182). The last page of the book well illustrates the death of the American Dream very well. The Lost Generation, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, focused on how the the people of the United States were affected by the war. One idea acknowledged all around is that the war killed the American Dream for those who still had time to achieve it. Gatsby’s green light represented everything he was trying to achieve, and the in the end he lost it anyways. Fitzgerald is trying to show the reader how many felt after the war, and how those raised and in the war had their lives drastically changed.
F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the many writers considered to be a part of the lost generation, showing many of the qualities assigned to them like great creativity.
Prohibition
Throughout The Great Gatsby, prohibition is brought up in various chapters. A specific time where it is brought up is at one of Gatsby’s parties. Nick and Jordan meet a middle aged man that they described as “owl eyed”, and he is very drunk. He says, “I’ve been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit near the library” (Fitzgerald 46). The people who are supposed to be enforcing the 18th amendment, which bans the sale or consumption of alcohol, are at this party. Ironically, these public officials are drinking, not acquiescing to the rules that they are supposed to be enforcing.
Throughout The Great Gatsby, prohibition is brought up in various chapters. A specific time where it is brought up is at one of Gatsby’s parties. Nick and Jordan meet a middle aged man that they described as “owl eyed”, and he is very drunk. He says, “I’ve been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit near the library” (Fitzgerald 46). The people who are supposed to be enforcing the 18th amendment, which bans the sale or consumption of alcohol, are at this party. Ironically, these public officials are drinking, not acquiescing to the rules that they are supposed to be enforcing.
Just like Gatsby's party attenders, these people seem to be illegally enjoying alcohol too, presenting the drink to whomever must have taken the photo.
The Flapper and Women's Changing Roles
In The Great Gatsby, the women's changing role is highly evident in every female character shown in the book. Both Daisy and Jordan are flappers with their short haircuts and modern fashion. They often go out to participate in the city nightlife and participate in activities such as smoking and drinking illegally. Their exploring of their freedoms are displayed when Daisy voices, “‘I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool’” (Fitzgerald 20). This portrays that the women of the time, even though they are breaking down double standards in gender roles, do not have the true opportunity and equality as men do. Based off of Daisy’s anecdote, readers can infer how that disparity is a shared sadness amongst the women of this decade, whether they seem to be a flapper or not. It elaborates on the type of social atmosphere that dominated within the Roaring Twenties.
In The Great Gatsby, the women's changing role is highly evident in every female character shown in the book. Both Daisy and Jordan are flappers with their short haircuts and modern fashion. They often go out to participate in the city nightlife and participate in activities such as smoking and drinking illegally. Their exploring of their freedoms are displayed when Daisy voices, “‘I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool’” (Fitzgerald 20). This portrays that the women of the time, even though they are breaking down double standards in gender roles, do not have the true opportunity and equality as men do. Based off of Daisy’s anecdote, readers can infer how that disparity is a shared sadness amongst the women of this decade, whether they seem to be a flapper or not. It elaborates on the type of social atmosphere that dominated within the Roaring Twenties.
Daisy Buchanan, one of the main characters in The Great Gatsby, serves as a flapper with the way Fitzgerald writes her personality, dialogue, and behavior.