“The Great Gatsby”: The American Dream in the Jazz Age Essay

Introduction

The Jazz Age is a period in the history of the United States of America from the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression due to the remarkable popularity of jazz music. It played a significant role in many spheres of culture during this period, and its influence on pop culture continued for a long time. This type of music became widespread due to the beginning of large-scale radio broadcasts in 1922; now, Americans could get acquainted with various styles of music without leaving their living room. Amateur bands and big bands from cities such as New York and Chicago were broadcast. Thus, the influence of jazz music forced young people to go against the traditional culture of previous generations.

The Aspirations and Realities

The action of the film and the novel takes place near New York, on the “gold coast” of Long Island, among the villas of the rich. In the 1920s, following the chaos of the First World War, American society entered an unprecedented period of prosperity: during these years, the US economy developed rapidly¹. At the same time, prohibition made many bootleggers millionaires and significantly boosted the development of organized crime. Admiring the rich and their charm, Gatsby at the same time decries the unlimited materialism and lack of morality of America at that time. The main character is an extraordinary man with great abilities and indomitable vitality. However, on the other hand, he has squandered himself in pursuit of a false goal — wealth and a woman who is not interested in him.

The 1974 film reflected the director’s understanding of the historical pattern of the rebirth of the American dream and its transformation into an American tragedy. Blind adherence to the ideals of the American dream leads to the degradation of the individual, the destruction and collapse of the talent of a person who has put his activities at the service of ethical standards of “success”. The drama of Gatsby also lies in his excessive idealism, complacency in a naively simple-minded perception of life, and attitude towards people. The theme of the degeneration of the American dream is revealed in the film by the example of other actors, among whom the popular commercial version of it is personified by the antipodes of Gatsby — Tom Buchanan, Daisy herself, and her friend Jordan and husband.

If Gatsby combines polar principles, then Tom Buchanan and others like him constantly emphasize the same traits — extreme self-confidence, belief in one’s exclusivity, physical strength, strong individualism, and ignorance covered with eloquence. Mia Farrow is the actress who was needed for the role of Daisy Buchanan. What is worth is only one of her peculiar voices, but at the same time successfully fits into the context of the image of Daisy, whose voice sounds like “ringing money”². The scene of Daisy and Jordan’s first appearance is designed in cold white tones. There are a lot of similar pastel shades in the film, especially if it concerns Daisy, who admits that this is her favorite color³. The Buchanan couple’s external beauty is paired with their inner world’s scarcity. This is a reflection of the reality of the jazz era when luxury and carefree life influenced young people.

Costumes and Reflection of The Era

The fashion of the twenties reflected the rapid changes in society. Women actively participate in social and political life, plays sports on an equal basis with a man, and spend their leisure time as they please⁴. Uncomfortable dresses and corsets that restrict movement are replaced by practical blouses and skirts, tight-fitting hats with ostrich feathers, and shoes with stable heels⁵. In this period, relatively quiet sports such as cricket, tennis, and yachting are of particular importance. Hence in the film, white jumpers, blue blazers, and two-tone shoes combine simplicity and convenience for everyday life⁶. A young designer Ralph Lauren played a special role in the film and provided costumes for the film from his collection. They allowed the director to reflect the spirit of the era. Clothing combines a variety of bedding and calm tones. In addition, it is necessary to highlight the simplicity of clothing, which reflects the change of the era and the departure from conservative suits and dresses⁷. In the context of the film, several scenes focus on Gatsby’s desire to get away from himself, to become like American aristocrats — idlers with their impractical light-festive outfits.

Each space emphasizes the characteristics of the heroes who inhabit it. Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, the viewer gets acquainted with the tastes and preferences of many people. Moreover, due to his attentiveness and sensitivity, the audience gets the opportunity to look even into their souls. The film’s authors have worked out the nuances of each frame so thoroughly and picturesquely that it allows viewers to immerse themselves in the inner world of each of the characters and the era in which they live. Daisy’s emotional mobility, fragility, and effeminacy are conveyed through the thin, translucent textures of the fabrics of her dresses, their light shades: pale yellow, milky, and lilac⁸. A long string of large pearls is always around her neck – a gift from her husband, emphasizing her noble social status⁹. The lack of one’s outlook on life, the strength to accept reality, self-respect, and inner values are found in all the characters except Nick. The reason for this is that the director seeks to demonstrate the decline of American society in the age of jazz. Consequently, the audience is presented with landscapes that contrast significantly, which indicates the remoteness and separation of people.

Conclusion

The vagueness of the image of Jay Gatsby is only the tip of the iceberg, which is based on acute social contradictions implicated in the rapid economic growth of the post-war years and problems of state regulation. In any epoch, there are periods characterized by cardinal changes that change the old foundations and establish new, revolutionary orders. Jazz music, which served as the background of the events of the twenties, became an integral part of this era. The popularity of this music was reduced to the need to overcome the chilling influence of civilization; jazz made it possible to use up the nervous tension accumulated during the war. The appeal to jazz culture is the permission of the previously illegal, including those pleasures that were previously considered primitive.

Bibliography

Eastman, Crystal. “Now We Can Begin.” In The American Yawp, edited by Joseph Locke and Ben Wright. Stanford University Press, 1922.

Locke, Joseph, and Ben Wright, eds. 2022. Review of The New Era. In The American Yawp. Stanford University Press.

Welles, Ellen. 1922. Review of A Flapper’s Appeal to Parents. In The American Yawp, edited by Joseph Locke and Ben Wright. Stanford University Press.

Footnotes

1. Locke, Joseph, and Ben Wright, eds. 2022. Review of The New Era. In The American Yawp. Stanford University Press. Web.
2. Priestley, Tom, ed. 1974. The Great Gatsby. Directed by Jack Clayton. Paramount Pictures.
3. Priestley, Tom, ed. 1974. The Great Gatsby.
4. Welles, Ellen. 1922. Review of A Flapper’s Appeal to Parents. In The American Yawp, edited by Joseph Locke and Ben Wright. Stanford University Press. Web.
5. Eastman, Crystal. “Now We Can Begin.” In The American Yawp, edited by Joseph Locke and Ben Wright. Stanford University Press, 1922. Web.
6. Priestley, Tom, ed. 1974. The Great Gatsby.
7. Eastman, Crystal. “Now We Can Begin.” In The American Yawp.
8. Priestley, Tom, ed. 1974. The Great Gatsby.
9. Priestley, Tom, ed. 1974. The Great Gatsby.