Everyone has a false face. Although we were born bare, our experiences, society and the prejudiced perspective that mankind has on itself have left us inevitability concealing our vulnerable flesh. It is forlorn, however, as life has the tendency to reveal us, leaving us scrutinizing for a new beginning. As it did to the Americans of the 1920s. Through the decline of American Society, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby demonstrates the revision of the American Dream.
In the early 1920s, the American Dream was of a divergent view. There was a common disposition which urged the people of that day and age to display themselves as part of a “modern” nation. Because of World War I, Americans only wanted to return home, back to their lives. However, …show more content…
Unemployment was nearly non-existent and was looked down upon in 1920 society. Simply due to there being plenty of wealth to go around. Almost as if they were challenged, Americans put the concept of “Work now and play later,” into shame as more jobs and fewer work hours allowed Americans to be able to have more time for popular cultural events while still engaging in earning their wage. In an article by Joshua Zeitz, he elaborated that it was all possible due to “the work week of the urban blue-collar worker fell from 55.9 hours in 1900 to 44.2 in 1929, while his or her real wages rose by 25 percent.” (Zeitz 1) He then mentions popular entertainments similar to dance halls, theaters, and sports stadiums that citizens of the 1920’s enjoyed to participate in during their free time with that money earned. In such social events, conversations usually revolved around one’s business and line of work. People connections and social gatherings were needed to be relevant in this era. Businessmen exchanged cards, women persuaded each other to buy products and many business relations were established this way. In this evidence, it is clearly seen that money was not a problem and almost like Americans had too much time on their …show more content…
Rather than statistics or people, it is a person. This person is Zelda, Fitzgerald’s wife. Ironically, the biggest and best examples of showing how the American dream evolved to what it is today is the artist in question. Fitzgerald was an author and before the “Great Gatsby”, he had many works. But the one that had made him rich to the point that he and family could live a life of luxury was his first one, “This Side of Paradise.” In an article about Fitzgerald written by Samuel Chase Coale, it was discussed that “Critics generally agree that Fitzgerald 's early success damaged his personal life and marred his literary production. ... It probably contributed to Fitzgerald 's alcoholism and the mental breakdown of his wife, Zelda.” Despite not being in America at the time, the effects are clearly shown. This was not a conflict that only occurs on American soil but in the American mind. Zelda is a significant character of evidence due to her mental breakdown. Despite being wealthy as they were. Fitzgerald continually wrote more to satisfy the lifestyle of lavishness Zelda yearned. Yet it was in vain, as they both fell to their own demises. Perhaps it was the stress of continually chasing for more or the immoral ways the wheels of life
In the early 1920s, the American Dream was of a divergent view. There was a common disposition which urged the people of that day and age to display themselves as part of a “modern” nation. Because of World War I, Americans only wanted to return home, back to their lives. However, …show more content…
Unemployment was nearly non-existent and was looked down upon in 1920 society. Simply due to there being plenty of wealth to go around. Almost as if they were challenged, Americans put the concept of “Work now and play later,” into shame as more jobs and fewer work hours allowed Americans to be able to have more time for popular cultural events while still engaging in earning their wage. In an article by Joshua Zeitz, he elaborated that it was all possible due to “the work week of the urban blue-collar worker fell from 55.9 hours in 1900 to 44.2 in 1929, while his or her real wages rose by 25 percent.” (Zeitz 1) He then mentions popular entertainments similar to dance halls, theaters, and sports stadiums that citizens of the 1920’s enjoyed to participate in during their free time with that money earned. In such social events, conversations usually revolved around one’s business and line of work. People connections and social gatherings were needed to be relevant in this era. Businessmen exchanged cards, women persuaded each other to buy products and many business relations were established this way. In this evidence, it is clearly seen that money was not a problem and almost like Americans had too much time on their …show more content…
Rather than statistics or people, it is a person. This person is Zelda, Fitzgerald’s wife. Ironically, the biggest and best examples of showing how the American dream evolved to what it is today is the artist in question. Fitzgerald was an author and before the “Great Gatsby”, he had many works. But the one that had made him rich to the point that he and family could live a life of luxury was his first one, “This Side of Paradise.” In an article about Fitzgerald written by Samuel Chase Coale, it was discussed that “Critics generally agree that Fitzgerald 's early success damaged his personal life and marred his literary production. ... It probably contributed to Fitzgerald 's alcoholism and the mental breakdown of his wife, Zelda.” Despite not being in America at the time, the effects are clearly shown. This was not a conflict that only occurs on American soil but in the American mind. Zelda is a significant character of evidence due to her mental breakdown. Despite being wealthy as they were. Fitzgerald continually wrote more to satisfy the lifestyle of lavishness Zelda yearned. Yet it was in vain, as they both fell to their own demises. Perhaps it was the stress of continually chasing for more or the immoral ways the wheels of life