Introduction
The story of Jay Gatsby is widely acknowledged as one of the quintessential examples of American literature. The Great Gatsby explores elements that are still relevant in modern American society, such as the idea of the American dream, materialistic values, and confrontation between the rich and poor. However, a significant part of the novel’s popularity is sourced in the author’s ability to accurately capture the life of society in the period commonly known as the Roaring Twenties. Therefore, the novel’s complex reflection of the period adds more details to the characters, plot, and conflicts between characters.
Reflection of the Setting in The Great Gatsby
Firstly, the novel does an impressive job of capturing the state of the economy after the First World War. Thus, Gatsby’s first meeting with Daisy Buchanan happens when he is one of the “excited young officers from Camp Taylor” (Fitzgerald 74). However, four years after the meeting, Gatsby manages to build a solid financial foundation to match Daisy’s social position. The rapid growth of capital was possible in the period after the end of the war, characterized by a vast range of new opportunities.
Furthermore, The Great Gatsby takes place during the Prohibition era, when the production, sale, and distribution of alcohol were prohibited by law. It is heavily implied in the novel that Gatsby’s wealth is connected with bootlegging activities. Thus, the reflection of the novel’s setting in Gatsby’s background allows the author to emphasize the seriousness of the character’s intention to impress his lover by any means.
Furthermore, the economic growth in the period marked the formation of a new class of wealthy Americans. Gatsby and Nick Carraway fit the description of “new money from the mint,” or people whose wealth was created mainly by their own hands (Fitzgerald 4). On the other side, Daisy, her husband Tom Buchanan, and Jordan Baker represent the ‘old money’ class of people whose wealth was inherited.
While Carraway may partially fit the description of old money, he chooses to work in the new prestigious field of finance and live in West Egg, which makes him a representative of new money. On the contrary, other people without powerful family connections, like Gatsby, have no right to choose since they occupy lower societal positions than the old money representatives.
The contrast between the old and new money in the novel is emphasized through the differences between West Egg and East Egg. Thus, the West Egg is described as “the less fashionable of the two,” but the narrator points out that there is a more significant “sinister contrast between them” (Fitzgerald 5). Furthermore, East Egg’s approach towards West Egg is described as “condescending” and “carefully guarding against “its spectroscopic gaiety” (Fitzgerald 44). Thus, the residents of East Egg frequently visited parties in West Egg, but the hospitality was one-sided.
Lastly, it is interesting that the residents of both areas were forced to drive through the Valley of Ashes on the way to New York. The comparison between the Valley of Ashes, “bounded on one side by a small foul river,” with the “scalloped ocean and the abounding blessed isles,” reminds old and new money representatives about their differences from poor people (Fitzgerald 23). Eventually, the Valley of Ashes shows the tragic outcomes of infidelity and disapproval of divorces in the society of that time. Thus, Tom Buchanan loses his mistress in a car accident, while Gatsby loses his life for taking the blame for Daisy’s actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay explored how the setting influences the characters, conflicts, and plot of The Great Gatsby. Thus, the essay defined the 1920s setting of economic growth and alcohol prohibition as a way for the author to justify a sudden increase in Gatsby’s wealth. Furthermore, the confrontation between old and new money in the historical period is reflected in the conflict between characters. Lastly, the novel draws attention to the social problem of the impossibility of divorce due to social stigma at that period. Thus, the reflection on the problem presents one of the forces driving the story’s plot.
Work Cited
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby: The Only Authorized Edition. Scribner, 2020.