Taboo: proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable (dictionary.com). This word describes the book The Great Gatsby accurately because many actions in this book are considered “taboo”. The book is set in the 1920s which is the time period of change. Prohibition started in the Roaring twenties; prohibition is defined as the outlaw of alcohol. There were many other changes at this period, for example there were flappers, which were women who no longer followed the rules. There was also an increase in lawbreakers and many illegal activities at this time. It was the phase when people were carefree and wanted independence after the war. This is the textbook time period for taboo issues to be written about because of the always changing society.
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Alcoholism was not commonly talked about before modernism but was mentioned frequently in this story, The Great Gatsby. Alcohol was mentioned in many different ways for instance through the characters actions and things mentioned in the book. In the story they talk about the elaborate parties. It also mentions how intoxicated the characters are in the story For example “I’ve been drunk for about a week now and thought it might sober me up to sit in a library.” (Fitzgerald pg). This quote demonstrates how available alcohol is even with the prohibition. Prohibition was a large part of why the parties were so extreme in the 1920s because it made alcohol cheaper. This was a good example of the “taboo” issues because these parties rejected tradition and certain beliefs before the twenties. Also when Tom drinks alcohol he becomes aggressive, which is corrupt issue that was discussed. Tom punches Myrtle in the nose because she was upsetting …show more content…
The first example of this is when Daisy murdered myrtle. Daisy was driving Gatsby’s car and then she hit myrtle with the car. Daisy did not stop the car like most people would have but kept on driving. Then when nick realized who was actually driving the car he tried to tell Daisy to confess but she would not. Then Gatsby said he would take the blame for her, which Daisy permitted him to do. Daisy allowing Gatsby to take the blame is another example of low morals because she was going to let him go to jail and get in trouble when she was the one that killed myrtle. Also myrtle 's husband, George, shooting Gatsby in cold blood is another example of the low morals from the story. Then at Gatsby’s funeral Daisy does not show up even after he was willing to take the blame for her. She claimed that she loved Gatsby but did not show up to his funeral. She did not say goodbye to him instead she fled with Tom. Myrtle wanting to get wealthy through George is another example of the low morals of the characters. Myrtle was not with Tom because she loved him. She was with him because of his wealth, she also wanted Tom to leave Daisy because she wanted to be the wealthy wife that Daisy was. Another example from the book is the way Gatsby retained his money. He got his money from illegally selling alcohol. Most people work their way up to make the money but for Gatsby he took the easy way so that he could be with
Alcoholism was not commonly talked about before modernism but was mentioned frequently in this story, The Great Gatsby. Alcohol was mentioned in many different ways for instance through the characters actions and things mentioned in the book. In the story they talk about the elaborate parties. It also mentions how intoxicated the characters are in the story For example “I’ve been drunk for about a week now and thought it might sober me up to sit in a library.” (Fitzgerald pg). This quote demonstrates how available alcohol is even with the prohibition. Prohibition was a large part of why the parties were so extreme in the 1920s because it made alcohol cheaper. This was a good example of the “taboo” issues because these parties rejected tradition and certain beliefs before the twenties. Also when Tom drinks alcohol he becomes aggressive, which is corrupt issue that was discussed. Tom punches Myrtle in the nose because she was upsetting …show more content…
The first example of this is when Daisy murdered myrtle. Daisy was driving Gatsby’s car and then she hit myrtle with the car. Daisy did not stop the car like most people would have but kept on driving. Then when nick realized who was actually driving the car he tried to tell Daisy to confess but she would not. Then Gatsby said he would take the blame for her, which Daisy permitted him to do. Daisy allowing Gatsby to take the blame is another example of low morals because she was going to let him go to jail and get in trouble when she was the one that killed myrtle. Also myrtle 's husband, George, shooting Gatsby in cold blood is another example of the low morals from the story. Then at Gatsby’s funeral Daisy does not show up even after he was willing to take the blame for her. She claimed that she loved Gatsby but did not show up to his funeral. She did not say goodbye to him instead she fled with Tom. Myrtle wanting to get wealthy through George is another example of the low morals of the characters. Myrtle was not with Tom because she loved him. She was with him because of his wealth, she also wanted Tom to leave Daisy because she wanted to be the wealthy wife that Daisy was. Another example from the book is the way Gatsby retained his money. He got his money from illegally selling alcohol. Most people work their way up to make the money but for Gatsby he took the easy way so that he could be with