THE GREAT GATSBY LITERARY CONTEXT
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald was born in Minnesota; his father had failed in business and was
impoverished due to this, however his mother’s family stepped in and funded his
education at Princeton University.
His first love was Ginevra King, whose wealthy family, in particular her father, who
was an extremely successful salesman, disapproved of their relationship due to
Fitzgerald’s family’s financial situation. Ginevra seemed to eventually reflect this
attitude, breaking off their relationship and instead marrying one of the richest men in
Chicago.
Fitzgerald was left with a deeper sense of social inferiority, though it seems as though
he grew more envious of the leisurely life that the rich lead: their exclusivity,
selfishness and arrogance.
A few years later, Fitzgerald met a young woman called Zelda Sayre, and they got
engaged. Alike Ginevra, Zelda ended up breaking off the engagement due to influence
from her family, who also disapproved of their noticeable difference in wealth, but,
interestingly, she chose to resume their relationship after Fitzgerald began making a
significant income from his writing.
Through both of these relationships, we can see where Fitzgerald’s ideas for the
characters of Daisy, Tom and Gatsby were formulated.
World War 1
World War One, better known as ‘The Great War’ during the 1920’s (as they have not
yet begun the Second World War) reinvented American society and the cultural
dynamics within America.
The Great War led towards a change in morals amongst returning soldiers, who had to
quickly adjust to a rapidly developing American society fuelled by its economic boom.
This period invited a shift in their society and the emergence of questioning traditional
values and welcoming cultural movements such as the jazz age, particularly in the
early 1920s.
In literature, and in turn the Great Gatsby, this distress among soldiers regularly
reflected in Fitzgeralds characters much like Nick Caraway and Jay Gatsby. As both
Nick and Jay adjust to the ideals of the ‘American dream’ they also attempt to form
identities of their own whilst facing the stark realities the underside of wealth and
glamour.
The contrast between the wealthy’s extravagant lifestyles and the sinister underbelly
of their power shows how the societal changes affect those who served in the war,
causing many to reevaluate their own individual moral standings.
, 19th Amendment:
The 19th amendment to the US constitution prohibits the US and its states from
denying the right to vote depending on sex. After the decades-long suffrage
movement, women were finally recognised as allowed to vote, the 19th amendment
certified on August 26th, 1920.
History of Suffrage:
Before 1776, women had right to vote in several colonies, but by 1807 every state
had denied women suffrage. In the mid-19th century organisations supporting
women’s rights became more active, such as the Seneca Falls convention adopting
the Declaration of Sentiments (equality between the sexes and the right to vote)
The first proposal version of the 19th amendment was introduced to Congress in 1878
but was rejected in 1887.
Important leaders such as Lucy Burns and Alice Paul were important leaders in the
push for the 19th amendment.
WW1 finally gave women an opportunity to shift public perception of women’s
sufferings. The National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie
Chapman Catt, contribute to this changing in view, their efforts vital to supporting the
war effort and eventually starting to peacefully riot for their right to vote.
The work of The National American Woman Suffrage Association alongside The
National Woman’s Party swayed public opinion, prompting President Woodrow Wilson
to announce his support of the Suffrage Amendment in 1918 before it was passed in
1919 and adopted in 1920.
26 million women people were allowed to vote in time for 1920 presidential election,
but didn’t fully enfranchise African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and
Native American women.
Ultimately, after years of struggling to obtain the right to vote, it was achieved,
women’s suffrage granted and unable to be denied by the US or states.
This mentality, of women’s fierce independence and breaking of societal expectations
is reflected in Jordan Baker; she is a sportswoman, modern and independent (without
fitting entirely into the flapper category), and sceptical of everything.
The Roaring Twenties
The roaring Twenties describes the decade in which the United States saw rapid social
and cultural change, a comforting and promising mood of optimism, and a dramatic
peak in economic prosperity. The spirit of the RT was one of modernity and a break
with tradition, and this was tangibly marked by new technology such as automobiles,
films, and radio, which was very rapidly made available to a large part of the
population.
The 1920s also brought around change for women, especially in the United States.
Their contributions to helping the workforce during the First World War gathered
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald was born in Minnesota; his father had failed in business and was
impoverished due to this, however his mother’s family stepped in and funded his
education at Princeton University.
His first love was Ginevra King, whose wealthy family, in particular her father, who
was an extremely successful salesman, disapproved of their relationship due to
Fitzgerald’s family’s financial situation. Ginevra seemed to eventually reflect this
attitude, breaking off their relationship and instead marrying one of the richest men in
Chicago.
Fitzgerald was left with a deeper sense of social inferiority, though it seems as though
he grew more envious of the leisurely life that the rich lead: their exclusivity,
selfishness and arrogance.
A few years later, Fitzgerald met a young woman called Zelda Sayre, and they got
engaged. Alike Ginevra, Zelda ended up breaking off the engagement due to influence
from her family, who also disapproved of their noticeable difference in wealth, but,
interestingly, she chose to resume their relationship after Fitzgerald began making a
significant income from his writing.
Through both of these relationships, we can see where Fitzgerald’s ideas for the
characters of Daisy, Tom and Gatsby were formulated.
World War 1
World War One, better known as ‘The Great War’ during the 1920’s (as they have not
yet begun the Second World War) reinvented American society and the cultural
dynamics within America.
The Great War led towards a change in morals amongst returning soldiers, who had to
quickly adjust to a rapidly developing American society fuelled by its economic boom.
This period invited a shift in their society and the emergence of questioning traditional
values and welcoming cultural movements such as the jazz age, particularly in the
early 1920s.
In literature, and in turn the Great Gatsby, this distress among soldiers regularly
reflected in Fitzgeralds characters much like Nick Caraway and Jay Gatsby. As both
Nick and Jay adjust to the ideals of the ‘American dream’ they also attempt to form
identities of their own whilst facing the stark realities the underside of wealth and
glamour.
The contrast between the wealthy’s extravagant lifestyles and the sinister underbelly
of their power shows how the societal changes affect those who served in the war,
causing many to reevaluate their own individual moral standings.
, 19th Amendment:
The 19th amendment to the US constitution prohibits the US and its states from
denying the right to vote depending on sex. After the decades-long suffrage
movement, women were finally recognised as allowed to vote, the 19th amendment
certified on August 26th, 1920.
History of Suffrage:
Before 1776, women had right to vote in several colonies, but by 1807 every state
had denied women suffrage. In the mid-19th century organisations supporting
women’s rights became more active, such as the Seneca Falls convention adopting
the Declaration of Sentiments (equality between the sexes and the right to vote)
The first proposal version of the 19th amendment was introduced to Congress in 1878
but was rejected in 1887.
Important leaders such as Lucy Burns and Alice Paul were important leaders in the
push for the 19th amendment.
WW1 finally gave women an opportunity to shift public perception of women’s
sufferings. The National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie
Chapman Catt, contribute to this changing in view, their efforts vital to supporting the
war effort and eventually starting to peacefully riot for their right to vote.
The work of The National American Woman Suffrage Association alongside The
National Woman’s Party swayed public opinion, prompting President Woodrow Wilson
to announce his support of the Suffrage Amendment in 1918 before it was passed in
1919 and adopted in 1920.
26 million women people were allowed to vote in time for 1920 presidential election,
but didn’t fully enfranchise African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and
Native American women.
Ultimately, after years of struggling to obtain the right to vote, it was achieved,
women’s suffrage granted and unable to be denied by the US or states.
This mentality, of women’s fierce independence and breaking of societal expectations
is reflected in Jordan Baker; she is a sportswoman, modern and independent (without
fitting entirely into the flapper category), and sceptical of everything.
The Roaring Twenties
The roaring Twenties describes the decade in which the United States saw rapid social
and cultural change, a comforting and promising mood of optimism, and a dramatic
peak in economic prosperity. The spirit of the RT was one of modernity and a break
with tradition, and this was tangibly marked by new technology such as automobiles,
films, and radio, which was very rapidly made available to a large part of the
population.
The 1920s also brought around change for women, especially in the United States.
Their contributions to helping the workforce during the First World War gathered
