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The Great Gatsby Analysis

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Works of literature often provide insightful perspectives into a certain time period. Literature can help a reader understand the issues of the time period, as well as the opinions and lifestyles of people living at that time. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald can be viewed as a lens into the 1920s by depicting how different socioeconomic classes lived and the feelings of these different groups of people. The 1920s are often referred to as the roaring 20s because it was a prosperous time for America. This period was was a crucial time for America, socially and politically, and Fitzgerald is able to emulate this in “The Great Gatsby”. The tone Fitzgerald utilizes throughout the novel is able to capture the mood of the …show more content…

In addition, Gatsby’s extravagant parties always seemed to have an endless supply of alcohol which leads many readers to believe Gatsby was involved in bootlegging (cliff notes). During prohibition, bootlegging occurred in many big cities including New York. The city’s government, however, did little to stop this illegal activity. The corrupt politicians of Tammany Hall allowed bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling to thrive. Law enforcement often took bribes from those in charge of these illegal activities and turned a blind eye, allowing many people, like Gatsby, to make major profits. One of key people in the Tammany Hall corruption was Arnold Rothstein, represented by Meyer Wolfsheim in the novel. Rothstein held a monopoly over gambling and prostitution in New York. The novel alludes to the fact that Wolfsheim was the one who fixed the 1919 world series, an event that actually happened. When Gatsby is at the speakeasy with Tom he sees his old friend Meyer Wolfsheim. The fact that Gatsby is associated with this man, who is notorious for his involvement in gambling, shows that Gatsby’s fortune was most likely the result of some illegal activity. (“Historical Context: The Great Gatsby”) Fitzgerald’s novel shows how wealthy lived and earned their money through characters such as Jay Gatsby and Meyer Wolfsheim, yet not all Americans lived as lavishly as these characters did. When

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