F. Scott Fitzgerald The Jazz Age And The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the few known writers of the twenties. The American writer is given credit for the term ‘Jazz Age,’ immortalizing the glamorous world of wild parties of the upper social classes. With Fitzgerald’s work being described as poetic, it often contain underlying social or capitalistic characteristics rooted in spectacular imagery. The various aspects of Fitzgerald’s work allow for analysis on several levels and from differing perspectives, while functioning as a mirror through which to view society, values, and ideals. This statement speaks truth to The Great Gatsby, published in 1925. The Great Gatsby is a true product of its time. Researchers Rupali Mirza, Kent Cartwright, Thomas Boyle, have looked at the story†¦show more content†¦Tom’s character in The Great Gatsby is a contradictory force to Gatsby’s â€Å"hard-earned money.† As Alberto Lena states in his analysis of Tom’s decadence: â€Å"à ¢â‚¬ ¦ money earned without labor was an invitation to corruption †¦ and it was assumed that hereditary wealth had caused the decline of Europe† (22). In these times, America was the land of Dreams offering the endless possibility such as escaping European traditions of aristocracy and social classes. Tom’s character becomes a means to criticize aged societal norms. Stressing the negative connotations Nick associates with his families money, or what can be seen as â€Å"old money,† he says Tom’s â€Å"family were enormously wealthy - even in college his freedom with money was a matter for reproach† (Fitzgerald 12). This shows Tom’s function in the novel as the opposite to Gatsby, who went from being a poor farmer and army man to being a financial success, emphasizing his rise to riches. Lena argues, â€Å"his enormous inheritance renders him the diametrical opposite of the self-made man, a concept forged at the end of the nineteenth cen tury† (Lena 21). Tom was born into the American Dream, and Gatsby found a [illegal] way to obtain his â€Å"dream.† Tom does not work but still seems to obtain connections in the bond business and Wall Street. Fitzgerald’s critical stance to the business is shown in Tom’s arrogance. In hisShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Great Gatsby Research Report1248 Words   |  5 PagesI. Introduction In 1896 F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. After growing up in Minnesota he moved to start a career and marry Zelda, the girl he loved. He published his first novel, This Side of Paradise, in 1920; the novel was a success and Fitzgerald quickly became one of the most famous young writers of the time. â€Å"F. Scott Fitzgerald eagerly embraced his newly minted celebrity status and embarked on an extravagant lifestyle that earned him a reputation as a playboy andRead Moreâ€Å"the Jazz Age† and F. Scott Fitzgerald1095 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Jazz Age† and F. Scott Fitzgerald It was an age of miracles. It was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire.† (â€Å"Fitzgerald: The Jazz Age† p. 3). As the 1920s began, the old, conservative ways of life began to disintegrate. A new era was just beginning. This era is called â€Å"The Jazz Age.† The Great Gatsby, a literary masterpiece written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the social historian of the 1920s, directly reflects the virtues, materialism, and revolutionary natureRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Jazz Age950 Words   |  4 PagesThe Jazz Age in Gatsby Born in 1896 F. Scott Fitzgerald became one of the greatest American writers of all time. Throughout his life, he lived in different parts of the United States and France. Fitzgerald wrote countless short stories and some screenplays. He most enjoyed writing novels. The short stories were just to keep him afloat while he wrote these novels. The most famous of all of his pieces is The Great Gatsby. It takes place during a time Fitzgerald called the â€Å"Jazz Age† but it is alsoRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald901 Words   |  4 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald is well known for his numerous short stories and novels during the â€Å"Jazz Age†. Take for instance, his best-selling novel The Great Gatsby and one of his short stories â€Å"Winter Dreams†. Each tell a cunning tale of romance and â€Å"the one who got away†. These two tales provide a glimpse into the lives of the rich and poor in the dazzling â€Å"Jazz Age†. However, these two s tories have their differences, and they each have similar points for the reader to discover. Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald’sRead MoreTaking a Look at the Jazz Age1600 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica is rejoicing. The Jazz Age was a time of change and new beginnings for Americans. During the Jazz Age, the United States erupted in new musical and cultural changes. These changes can be seen through the shift in literature, from conservative to contemporary writings, by literary giants like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith. The Jazz Age was known as the Roaring Twenties, and is still popular today due to its infamous jazz music, flappers, and prohibition. The Jazz Age was an exciting, andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby Summary1036 Words   |  5 PagesSummer Project 2012- â€Å"The Great Gatsby†: FULL SUMMARY OF â€Å"THE GREAT GATSBY†: During the 1920’s era, within the various movements of prohibition, women’s rights, and the Jazz Age, F Scott Fitzgerald bore a timeless novel by the name of â€Å"The Great Gatsby.† The predominant character, Nick, who duals as narrator, is indecisive but thoughtful. He lives in West Egg on Long Island Sound, amidst the aristocratic air and luxurious titles. Gatsby, Nick’s neighbor, whose affairs apart from his partsRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald893 Words   |  4 PagesGreen Mrs. Navarro English III 3 October 2014 From Party to Madness, And Everything In Between F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, â€Å"First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you†. â€Å"The good life† can quickly dwindle into loneliness and sorrow, as portrayed in his masterpiece of a novel The Great Gatsby. Main character Jay Gatsby is an exceptional example of this. As Gatsby wanders throughout the novel trying to impress his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, throwing lavish partiesRead MoreExamples Of Jazz Age In The Great Gatsby770 Words   |  4 PagesThe Jazz Age Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most important author in United States history.Scott wrote many novels but the most iconic is The Great gatsby. The Great Gatsby is a fun, and famous novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This book is a book that will make one feel excited, and feel sad for Jay Gatsby. This book also talks about life, and that just because someone hase money, it does not mean you will find love. Fitzgerald inspiration to write this iconic book was the culture that heRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1458 Words   |  6 PagesHonors American Literature 12 April 2016 â€Å"The Jazz Age† The iconic novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, utilizes multiple songs throughout the story. â€Å"Fitzgerald’s wok has become automatically identified with an American decade: The Jazz Age (which he named) or the Roaring Twenties or The Boom.† (Fitzgerald, IX). The Twenties was a time full of exploration of alcohol and music and the move from small farms into large cities. â€Å"Since The Great Gatsby is the defining novel of the Twenties, whichRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. Scott