1. The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby
The 1 920s and theThe 1 920s and the
American DreamAmerican Dream

3. The 20s: an age of transitionThe 20s: an age of transition
World War I and After
"The world must be made safe for democracy," Woodrow
Wilson the President had declared, "Its peace must be
planted upon the tested foundation of political liberty." ---
a Spirit of Idealism. Americans entered the war in 1917.
A general disillusionment among the people caused
nervousness: racism, intolerance, violence, Ku Klux Klan,
political intolerance-- “Ghost of Bolshevism" behind every
form of social protest / strikes.
•1922 Foreign policy of Isolationism
•1929 Stock Market Crash
•1932 New Deal Era

4. Roaring TwentiesRoaring Twenties
• Economy boomingEconomy booming
• America partiedAmerica partied
• Organized crimeOrganized crime
• Prohibition ActProhibition Act
• Decline of moral standardsDecline of moral standards

5. OPTIMISMOPTIMISM
• Business, change and innovation, laissez faire-Business, change and innovation, laissez faire-
economyeconomy
• Rapid growth of industry and mechanization:Rapid growth of industry and mechanization:
unlimited progressunlimited progress
effecting an even wider distribution of theeffecting an even wider distribution of the
blessing of civilizations : electricity; automobileblessing of civilizations : electricity; automobile
• Even skeptics believe in progress and in solvingEven skeptics believe in progress and in solving
of problems: new" Golden Age" for Americaof problems: new" Golden Age" for America

6. CRITICSCRITICS
• They called the decade "decline andThey called the decade "decline and
degradation."degradation."
• Americans are caught up in a "surge ofAmericans are caught up in a "surge of
materialism“; people failed to grasp the meaningmaterialism“; people failed to grasp the meaning
and significance of life.and significance of life.
• They feel disillusioned or disenchanted; they lostThey feel disillusioned or disenchanted; they lost
faith in life and in the possibility of socialfaith in life and in the possibility of social
progress, which caused their absolute lack ofprogress, which caused their absolute lack of
interest in politics.interest in politics.

7. SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE OFSOCIAL ATMOSPHERE OF
CHANGECHANGE
• relaxing of structures within the sphere ofrelaxing of structures within the sphere of
private and public moralityprivate and public morality
• relationship between the sexesrelationship between the sexes
• change of the status of womenchange of the status of women

8. SPIRITSPIRIT OF THE 20sOF THE 20s
• urbanization and the move away from theurbanization and the move away from the
landland
• fascination with the dream of successfascination with the dream of success
• development of the cinema as a mediumdevelopment of the cinema as a medium
of entertainmentof entertainment
• popularity of jazzpopularity of jazz
• increased mobility brought about by theincreased mobility brought about by the
mass produced automobilemass produced automobile

9. PROHIBITIONPROHIBITION
• The 18th Amendment(1919)prohibited the sale andThe 18th Amendment(1919)prohibited the sale and
consumption of alcohol.consumption of alcohol.
• Although alcohol was illegal, it was distributedAlthough alcohol was illegal, it was distributed
through" bootleggers."through" bootleggers."
• Bootlegging means the production and sale of liquor.Bootlegging means the production and sale of liquor.
• Alcohol was served in illegal night-clubs which wereAlcohol was served in illegal night-clubs which were
called "speakeasies."called "speakeasies."
• It was the time of famous gangsters like Al CaponeIt was the time of famous gangsters like Al Capone
and events like the St. Valentine's Day massacreand events like the St. Valentine's Day massacre
happened. During that time the Mafia becamehappened. During that time the Mafia became
important in American society.important in American society.

10. PROHIBITIONPROHIBITION

11. THE CHANGING ROLE OFTHE CHANGING ROLE OF
WOMENWOMEN• The 19th Amendment(1920) gave women the right toThe 19th Amendment(1920) gave women the right to
vote.vote.
• During the Twenties 9 million women were employedDuring the Twenties 9 million women were employed
and earned money on their own; many youngerand earned money on their own; many younger
women used their money to enjoy themselves.women used their money to enjoy themselves.
• Women bobbed their hair.Women bobbed their hair.
• They were able to drink and smoke in public. For theThey were able to drink and smoke in public. For the
first time, female alcoholism is a major problem.first time, female alcoholism is a major problem.
• The liberated young women were called" flappers."The liberated young women were called" flappers."
InIn The Great Gatsby,The Great Gatsby, Jordan Baker is such a new typeJordan Baker is such a new type
of woman. She is living alone and has equalof woman. She is living alone and has equal
relationships to men. She is self-confident in dealingrelationships to men. She is self-confident in dealing
with others. Tom comments on her new freedom as awith others. Tom comments on her new freedom as a
woman.woman.

12. Flapper Culture and StyleFlapper Culture and Style

13. HARLEM MOVEMENTHARLEM MOVEMENT
Southern gentle lady,Southern gentle lady,
Do not swoon.Do not swoon.
They've just hung a blackThey've just hung a black
manman
In the dark of the moon.In the dark of the moon.
They've hung a black manThey've hung a black man
To the roadside treeTo the roadside tree
In the dark of the moonIn the dark of the moon
For the world to seeFor the world to see
How Dixie protects
Its white womanhood
Southern gentle lady,
Be good!
Be good!
Silhouette by Langston Hughes

14. FACTS ABOUT THE DECADEFACTS ABOUT THE DECADE
• 106,521,537 people in the United States106,521,537 people in the United States
• 2,132,000 unemployed, Unemployment 5.2%2,132,000 unemployed, Unemployment 5.2%
• Life expectancy: Male 53.6, Female 54.6Life expectancy: Male 53.6, Female 54.6
• 343,000 in military (down from 1,172,601 in 1919)343,000 in military (down from 1,172,601 in 1919)
• Average annual earnings $1236; Teacher's salary $970Average annual earnings $1236; Teacher's salary $970
• Dow Jones High 100 Low 67Dow Jones High 100 Low 67
• Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the population.Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the population.
• Gangland crime included murder, swindles, racketeeringGangland crime included murder, swindles, racketeering
• It took 13 days to reach California from New York. ThereIt took 13 days to reach California from New York. There
were 387,000 miles of paved road.were 387,000 miles of paved road.

15. Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?
• Born in 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota.Born in 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• He attended Princeton University.He attended Princeton University.
• 1917 joined the army.1917 joined the army.
• Met his wife Zelda.Met his wife Zelda.
• PublishedPublished The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby at 23 in 1925.at 23 in 1925.
• Regarded as the Speaker of the Jazz Age.Regarded as the Speaker of the Jazz Age.
• Drinking and wife’s schizophreniaDrinking and wife’s schizophrenia
• Died in 1940.Died in 1940.

16. WHAT IS THE AMERICANWHAT IS THE AMERICAN
DREAM?DREAM?
• It describes an attitude of hope and faithIt describes an attitude of hope and faith
that looks forward to the fulfillment ofthat looks forward to the fulfillment of
human wishes and desires.human wishes and desires.
““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that allWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowedmen are created equal, that they are endowed
by their creator with certain unalienable rights,by their creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuitthat among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness.”of happiness.”

17. SPIRITUAL AND MATERIALSPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL
IMPROVEMENTIMPROVEMENT
• Materialism achieved too quickly.Materialism achieved too quickly.
• Thus, lacking spiritual life/purpose.Thus, lacking spiritual life/purpose.
• Gatsby is a character that represents thisGatsby is a character that represents this
DREAM.DREAM.
THE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAM

18. FAILURE OF THE AMERICANFAILURE OF THE AMERICAN
DREAMDREAM
• PovertyPoverty
• DiscriminationDiscrimination
• ExploitationExploitation
• HypocrisyHypocrisy
• CorruptionCorruption
• SuppressionSuppression

19. How is this developed?How is this developed?
• Through the five central charactersThrough the five central characters
• Through certain dominant images andThrough certain dominant images and
symbolssymbols
• Through diction.Through diction.

20. Pre-reading: Pre-reading:
1.Why are we still reading a book written in the1.Why are we still reading a book written in the
1920’s? What gives a book its longevity?1920’s? What gives a book its longevity?
2.How was the 1920’s a reaction to WWI?2.How was the 1920’s a reaction to WWI?
3.Some people think that having money leads to3.Some people think that having money leads to
happiness. Do you agree? Why or why not? Whathappiness. Do you agree? Why or why not? What
are the advantages or disadvantages of beingare the advantages or disadvantages of being
wealthy.wealthy.
4.What is the "American Dream"? Where did it4.What is the "American Dream"? Where did it
originate, and how has it changed over theoriginate, and how has it changed over the
centuries?centuries?
5.Have you ever wanted to relive a moment from your5.Have you ever wanted to relive a moment from your
past, to redo it? Describe the situation. How andpast, to redo it? Describe the situation. How and
why would you change the past?why would you change the past?

21. cvip.fresno.com/~jsh33/roar.html
harley_roaring_twenties.htm
www.eliteskills.com/
www.cas.utulsa.edu/english/.../
the_great_gatsby.html
www.tqnyc.org/NYC040522/.../
gatsbychapter9.htm
school.discovery.com/.../
greatbooks-greatgatsby
www.refocus-now.com/stock/raphaelLibert/index2.htm
www.dalcohomesew.com/antiquecars/gatsby.htm
faculty.ehshouston.org/.../
Great%20Gatsby%20WEB%20P...