Seemingly, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a lovely story that details the strange relationship between Jay Gatsby, a lonely, but ambitious gentleman, and the opportunist, Daisy Buchanan. However, the book is narrated by Nick Carraway, a recent Yale graduate and an “honest” man who reveals the harsh reality of the 1920s, when the book takes place. He has recently moved to New York and lives next door to Gatsby, and upon attending one of his extravagant parties, Nick learns many unexpected parts of Gatsby’s life, like his unprecedented love for Nick’s cousin, Daisy. Nick Carraway, debatably the voice of F. Scott Fitzgerald himself, discloses the effects of Prohibition and the 18th Amendment on the American people. The 1920s
…show more content…
Meyer Wolfsheim, a racketeer, recruits Gatsby to be a part of his dishonest and fraudulent business, hereby exemplifying the unethical ways of acquiring money. Tom reveals, “[Gatsby] and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That's one of his little stunts. I picked [Gatsby] for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong” informing the reader of the illegality of Wolfsheim’s business (133). The uprise of swindling businesses in the twenties illustrate the disappearance of morals and rightful actions. Wolfsheim runs a felonious business selling alcohol, but because of Prohibition, his business makes him an enormous amount of profit. Wolfsheim does not consider the fact that his business is legal, instead, all he understands is that his business in bringing in an abundance of money, and he has unrecognizable influence and power because of it. Jordan Baker, a pro golfer, is another example of a person who hoodwinks the system by cheating in a golfing tournament. After spending most of the day with her, Nick describes, “At her first big golf tournament there was a row that nearly reach the newspapers- a suggestion that she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-final rounds” …show more content…
Tom and Daisy are unhappily married and have a daughter together named Pammy, whose presence is completely ignored for the most of the book, and their relationship uncover the facade of a family unit during the twenties. While talking with Gatsby, Nick, and even Daisy, Tom himself declares “And what's more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time” emphasizing the peculiar state of his relationship with Daisy (131). While speaking to his wife, Tom acknowledges that he is a “fool” and also that he continues to have an affair with another woman, yet his wife outrageously accepts the detail as though it is harmless and superficial. The twenties destabilized the importance of family and having a firm relationship, making the possibility of having an essential part of the American dream impossible. Comparably, Gatsby’s influence over Daisy prior to her marrying Tom, is an indication of the corruption of true love during this time period. Jordan Baker describes to Nick how Daisy’s wedding night went recounting, “she had a bottle of Sauterne in one hand and a letter in one hand” implying she was drinking a great deal after reading a supposed letter from Gatsby (76). Interestingly enough, the only night Daisy drank enough to be drunk
Meyer Wolfsheim, a racketeer, recruits Gatsby to be a part of his dishonest and fraudulent business, hereby exemplifying the unethical ways of acquiring money. Tom reveals, “[Gatsby] and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That's one of his little stunts. I picked [Gatsby] for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong” informing the reader of the illegality of Wolfsheim’s business (133). The uprise of swindling businesses in the twenties illustrate the disappearance of morals and rightful actions. Wolfsheim runs a felonious business selling alcohol, but because of Prohibition, his business makes him an enormous amount of profit. Wolfsheim does not consider the fact that his business is legal, instead, all he understands is that his business in bringing in an abundance of money, and he has unrecognizable influence and power because of it. Jordan Baker, a pro golfer, is another example of a person who hoodwinks the system by cheating in a golfing tournament. After spending most of the day with her, Nick describes, “At her first big golf tournament there was a row that nearly reach the newspapers- a suggestion that she had moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-final rounds” …show more content…
Tom and Daisy are unhappily married and have a daughter together named Pammy, whose presence is completely ignored for the most of the book, and their relationship uncover the facade of a family unit during the twenties. While talking with Gatsby, Nick, and even Daisy, Tom himself declares “And what's more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time” emphasizing the peculiar state of his relationship with Daisy (131). While speaking to his wife, Tom acknowledges that he is a “fool” and also that he continues to have an affair with another woman, yet his wife outrageously accepts the detail as though it is harmless and superficial. The twenties destabilized the importance of family and having a firm relationship, making the possibility of having an essential part of the American dream impossible. Comparably, Gatsby’s influence over Daisy prior to her marrying Tom, is an indication of the corruption of true love during this time period. Jordan Baker describes to Nick how Daisy’s wedding night went recounting, “she had a bottle of Sauterne in one hand and a letter in one hand” implying she was drinking a great deal after reading a supposed letter from Gatsby (76). Interestingly enough, the only night Daisy drank enough to be drunk