THE ROARING THE ROARING TWENTIES and TWENTIES and THE THE

GREAT GATSBYGREAT GATSBY

English 3 – Mr. McGowanEnglish 3 – Mr. McGowan

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

1.1. How do people in different social classes How do people in different social classes interact with one another? interact with one another?

2.2. Is it possible to be whatever and whoever Is it possible to be whatever and whoever you want to be in America?you want to be in America?

3.3. What is the true nature of love? Is it What is the true nature of love? Is it possible to make someone love you?possible to make someone love you?

GATSBY GATSBY InformationInformation

Author: F. SCOTT FITZGERALDAuthor: F. SCOTT FITZGERALD Year: 1925Year: 1925 Genre: MODERNIST NOVELGenre: MODERNIST NOVEL Point of View: FIRST PERSON Point of View: FIRST PERSON

(DETACHED)(DETACHED)

““THE ROARING TWENTIES” – THE ROARING TWENTIES” – Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

World War I (1914-1918)World War I (1914-1918)– Time of chaos, destructionTime of chaos, destruction

Gas warfare

Tanks – armored warfare

Trench warfare (“stalemating”)

Post-war periodPost-war period– Trauma of dealing with “Great War”Trauma of dealing with “Great War”– Desire to escapeDesire to escape

ISOLATIONISMISOLATIONISM Time of great FUN, AMUSEMENT, Time of great FUN, AMUSEMENT,

SELF-ABSORPTIONSELF-ABSORPTION As ECONOMY grows, MORALITY As ECONOMY grows, MORALITY

declinesdeclines

Examples: 1980’s Wall StreetExamples: 1980’s Wall Street

MAJOR CHANGES IN EVERYDAY MAJOR CHANGES IN EVERYDAY LIFELIFE

Military technologies Military technologies Civilian life Civilian life Mass production – automationMass production – automation Automobiles – Model TAutomobiles – Model T

Automobile industry spawns other “side industries:

-GAS STATIONS

-MOTELS

-HIGHWAYS

Cultural Changes of the1920’sCultural Changes of the1920’s

RADIORADIO– ““Golden Age” of radio, similar to TV Golden Age” of radio, similar to TV

today today

MoviesMovies

Originally silent black and white Originally silent black and white – Called “movies” because the pictures Called “movies” because the pictures

moved moved

Added sound, became “talkies”Added sound, became “talkies”

MusicMusic

““Jazz Age” (a term invented by Jazz Age” (a term invented by Fitzgerald himself)Fitzgerald himself)

Jazz = “sophisticated and hip, but Jazz = “sophisticated and hip, but morally corrupting and rebellious”morally corrupting and rebellious”

Many jazz artists were minorities – Many jazz artists were minorities – not appreciated by White not appreciated by White establishmentestablishment

Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, W.C. Handy (blues)W.C. Handy (blues)

Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington

Statue of W.C. Handy in Memphis

Literature – “Harlem Renaissance”Literature – “Harlem Renaissance”

Langston Hughes (far left)

Claude McKay

Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Home to Harlem

Marcus Garvey

Dorothy West

Richard Wright

Social: DANCESocial: DANCE

Extravagant dances, dance contestsExtravagant dances, dance contests ““Breakaway”Breakaway” ““Charleston”Charleston” ““Lindy Hop”Lindy Hop”

Role of WomenRole of Women

1920 – 191920 – 19thth Amendment (women’s Amendment (women’s suffrage)suffrage)

Men lost in WWI – women work to replace income

Flappers – “new breed of women”

FlappersFlappers

FlappersFlappers

Short skirts, short hairShort skirts, short hair Listened to jazzListened to jazz Flaunted “traditional” gender rolesFlaunted “traditional” gender roles Acted “unwomanly” by older standardsActed “unwomanly” by older standards

– Wore makeupWore makeup– Drank hard liquorDrank hard liquor– SmokedSmoked– Played sports (golf – Babe Didrickson Zaharias)Played sports (golf – Babe Didrickson Zaharias)

PROHIBITIONPROHIBITION

Probably the single most important Probably the single most important influence on behavior of people in influence on behavior of people in the 20’sthe 20’s

1818thth Amendment (VOLSTEAD ACT)– Amendment (VOLSTEAD ACT)– banned sale or consumption of liquor banned sale or consumption of liquor in U.S.in U.S.

Intention: Limit social ills caused by Intention: Limit social ills caused by drinkingdrinking

“Prohibition: The Noble Experiment”

Actual Consequences of ProhibitionActual Consequences of Prohibition

Rise of organized crimeRise of organized crime– Al Capone, Hymie Weiss, Chicago mobsters, Al Capone, Hymie Weiss, Chicago mobsters,

etc.etc.

BootleggingBootlegging– Moonshine, “bathtub gin”Moonshine, “bathtub gin”– Fortunes made – Kennedy’s, etc.Fortunes made – Kennedy’s, etc.

Speakeasies

Actual Effects of ProhibitionActual Effects of Prohibition

Political corruptionPolitical corruption– Police payoffs in return for protectionPolice payoffs in return for protection– Non-raiding of speakeasiesNon-raiding of speakeasies

Flouting of lawsFlouting of laws– More “fun” to drink because it was More “fun” to drink because it was

illegalillegal– Allure of dangerAllure of danger

ImmigrationImmigration

American attitude toward American attitude toward immigration: XENOPHOBIAimmigration: XENOPHOBIA

1924 - President Coolidge signs 1924 - President Coolidge signs Immigration Act Immigration Act – Most European immigrants banned and Most European immigrants banned and

all Asians banned entirelyall Asians banned entirely

SportsSports

Rise of American spectator sportsRise of American spectator sports Golden age of baseballGolden age of baseball

Horse racingHorse racing BoxingBoxing College footballCollege football Tennis, golfTennis, golf

Man o’ War, 1920 Belmont and Preakness winner

Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney, 1926

“The Long Count”

So-called “Four Horsemen” of Notre Dame

Leatherheads, 2008

Economy of the 1920’sEconomy of the 1920’s

Huge boom in the stock marketHuge boom in the stock market– Corporate stockholders made tons of Corporate stockholders made tons of

moneymoney ““Laissez-faire” economic policiesLaissez-faire” economic policies

– Low taxes on corporationsLow taxes on corporations– Tremendous profitsTremendous profits

Excess, greed, wealth Excess, greed, wealth

So how did it all end?So how did it all end?

Prices continued to risePrices continued to rise Greed of owners went unchecked by Greed of owners went unchecked by

federal governmentfederal government System eventually collapsedSystem eventually collapsed

Workers flood Wall Street in a panic on October 29, 1929

““Black Tuesday” – 10/29/29Black Tuesday” – 10/29/29

Complete crash of stock marketComplete crash of stock market Worldwide depression, millions of Worldwide depression, millions of

people out of workpeople out of work Brings Roaring 20’s to abrupt endBrings Roaring 20’s to abrupt end

The Great Depression – 1930’sThe Great Depression – 1930’s

1933 – Prohibition repealed (211933 – Prohibition repealed (21stst

Amendment)Amendment)

1941 – World War II1941 – World War II

Aftermath

GREAT GATSBY GREAT GATSBY Characters – Characters – Chapter 1Chapter 1

NARRATOR (Nick Carraway)NARRATOR (Nick Carraway)

TOM BUCHANANTOM BUCHANAN

DAISY BUCHANANDAISY BUCHANAN

JORDAN BAKERJORDAN BAKER

GATSBYGATSBY