The Role Of Organized Crime In The Great Gatsby

Organized crime is a problem that has been around for decades, and hit its high in the 1920’s. Although we do not face the same problems of organized crime nearly as much as others have faced in the 1920’s, it is still a problem faced today. Organized crime has been around for decades and it continues to change. It has changed the way people view and feel about the situation. In most cases the crimes committed are not ones that people become horribly concerned about, just small things that they are able to keep hidden. The people committing the crimes can be anyone and that is one of the things that make this situation so dangerous. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, organized crime is not portrayed as a big role but it is shown and leaves readers wondering is Jay Gatsby involved in something darker than what is already known? By definition, organized crime is "criminal activities which involve large numbers of people that are organized and controlled by a small group" (dictionary.com). Organized crime is a problem that we are faced with today, but it was also faced in the 1920’s. During this time, there were groups such as …show more content…
The one that many people associate with organized crime is Al Capone. Al Capone was born in New York in 1899. He grew up to become the most infamous gangster of all time. During the prohibition in the 1920’s his crimes hit an all-time high, and he was able to gain millions in bootlegging and gambling. He later moved on to more violent crimes including many brutal acts of violence against other gangsters. Al Capone’s most famous crime, the one where he became known was the Valentine’s Day Massacre, where he ordered the death of seven rivals. Al Capone was later charged with income-tax evasion, released and died years later due to health conditions. Al Capone is one of the most infamous gangsters, and is the icon for organized crime in the 1920 's.