Grapes of Wrath/Great Gatsby Context

Literary and Historical context COLOUR CODING Gow-red Gatsby-yellow General-blue

When was *The Great Gatsby* written?

1923-4 written

__1925__ published

Fitzgerald’s life

During the 1920s in New York Fitzgerald and Zelda a lavish and hedonistic lifestyle that reflected the morally permissive ideals of the Jazz Age

In 1924 he moved to Europe to finish his novel *The Great Gatsby-* **similar to Nick who moves back West to reflect on his life in New York**

Fitzgerald’s influences

Many of his own life events influences his works

* Zelda = Daisy- pursued her romantically and she married him only after his success with *This Side of Paradise*
* move to Long Island 1922- saw first-hand the lavish parties and division in wealth **(West & East egg set in Long Island)**

Jazz Age culture represented heavily in his works

Why were the 1920s called the roaring 20s? (economic and cultural factors)

Decade of __economic growth and widespread prosperity__ is driven by:

* recovery from war
* boom in construction
* rapid growth of consumer goods

Spirit of Roaring 20s marked by a general feeling of __modernity__ and a __break away from tradition__, through __technological advancements__

* Also known as the __Jazz Age__ as it prospered during this time became mainstream style of music in cities and for youth
* increased artistic and cultural freedoms and expression
* dance clubs, partying and drinking was very popular during this time

What is a ‘New Woman’/ Flapper?

__New Woman__- a feminist ideal that had a profound influence and the ‘Flapper’ is closely associated with this ideal

* __Flapper__- cultural symbol that usually elicited an image of a young woman with short bob hairstyle, short dress, painted lips, usually smoking and going to jazz clubs to dance
* also not just a physical change they were characterised as being more reckless, sexually liberated and unfazed by previous social taboos
* changes in fashion interpreted as deeper social change
* liberated from restriction clothes but also restricting traditional views

What was the position of women in the 1920s?

__Time of change for women__- the struggle between traditional gender roles that kept them confined to the domestic sphere and developing times that gave women more freedom

* 19th amendment- gave women *right to vote*
* increased women in *workforce*
* actively participating in *consumer culture*

What is conspicuous consumption/ consumerism?

Due to economic prosperity and technological advancements consumerist culture thrived during the 1920s

* __conspicuous consumption__ became popular
* purchase of goods or services for the *specific purpose of displaying one’s wealth*/ social status
* __consumerism__ encouraged those to buy goods in increasing quantities as this would enhance your social status
* *expansion of credit allowed* for sale of more consumer goods especially *automobiles*

What was the Prohibition Act?

Prohibition was the ban on the manufacture and sale of alcohol that lasted from 1920-33

* primarily introduced due to religious reasons
* negatively it increased criminal activity
* bootlegging and illegal manufacture and sale of alcohol were widespread
* notorious prohitibtion-era gangsters such as Al Capone
* creation of speakeasy were illegal establishments for American to access alcohol and the nightlife that comes with it

**Gatsby accumulates his wealth through boot-legging**

Old Money vs New Money

__Old Money__- inherited wealth; money that has been passed down through generations (old industrialists, former plantation owners)

__New Money__- ‘noveau riche’ recent earning of wealth usually through new emerging industries of that time (entrepreneurs/ celebrities)

* one is inherited other is earned
* perceived difference- spending habits and social perceptions
* __old money wealth__ is *usually saved* to be able to be passed down
* __new money wealth__- *spent liberally* to lead a lavish lifestyle

Old World vs New World

__Old World__ (Europe)- place of tradition and rich historically and culturally (place of decaying morals)

__New World__ (America)- land of opportunity, person’s wealth is defined by hard work rather than social status

==When was *The Grapes of Wrath* written?==

1930s written

__1939__- published

==Steinbeck’s life==

California, rural environment

* Grew up in __California__ in small __rural valley__
* __laboured with migrant workers__ on a farm
* witnessed first-hand the influx of migrant workers to California during the Great Depression
* lived in a rural environment hence putting much importance on land and nature

==Steinbeck’s influences==

Ed Ricketts

Socialism & Communism

Proletarian novel

__Ed Ricketts__- marine biologist developed ideas about interrelationships of life

* close friend and mentor to Steinbeck taught him a lot about biology and philosophy

__Socialism & Communism__

* denounced as a ‘red’ GoW met with controversy due to its messaging
* held socialist and communist beliefs as many of his books advocate these ideals that centre around workers
* GoW seen as a __Proletarian novel__- genre of writing written by left-wing mainly by workers for workers


1. as it advocated for social change and exposes the working conditions/ exploitations of the working class

==When and what was the Great Depression?==

Period of economic depression (1929-39) following the Wall Street Crash in 1929

* mass unemployment
* sharp increase in poverty and homelessness
* steep decline in industrial production
* deflation (steep drop in prices)

lack of work and poverty for Joads due to this

==What was the Dust Bowl?==

* period of severe dust storms
* → severely damaged ecology and agriculture of American prairies during the 1930s
* → agricultural depression (contributed to Great Depression, closure of banks/ loans)
* severe droughts and dust storms → forced to abandon farms → homeless/ unemployed

==Transcendentalism/ Emersonian Oversoul==

Ralph Waldo Emerson central figure in this philosophical movement

* Promotes intuitive __spiritual thinking embraced idealism__, focusing on __nature and opposing materialism__
* __Emersonian Oversoul__- idea of unity between mankind and also with nature

**Jim Casy- represents these ideas**

==Jeffersonian Agrarianism==

philosophy advocated by Thomas Jefferson

* believed in a __society based on agriculture__
* __rural society took precedence__ over urban society
* most of the land should be used for farming

^^Literary Modernism^^

* 1900s-40s
* self-conscious break with traditional ways of writing
* experimented with literary form and expression
* driven by a conscious desire to overturn traditional modes of representation (due to rapid industrialisation and advancements and social change)
* sense of disillusionment and loss pervade American Modernist Fiction

^^Lost Generation Writers^^

* group of American writers- felt ‘lost’ as their inherited values seemed no longer relevant in the postwar world
* __sense of disillusionment felt__ by this group of writers following the war
* link to __modernism__
* __nihilistic image of America__ exposing the realities and sometimes expressing hope of change

**Grapes of Wrath highlights the realities of agricultural America during the Great Depression**

**Great Gatsby- Fitzgerald skewered the American Dream**

^^Explain the ‘self-made man’ and ‘rags to riches’ tales^^

__Self-made man__- Henry Clay coined this term and it indicated the *success of an individual lies within themselves* and not with outside conditions

__Rags to riches__- Horatio Alger wrote these tales that depicted those *achieving wealth and greatness with hard work and perseverance*

**Gatsby embodies this self-made man as he came from relative poverty (but his wealth was achieved through illegal means)**

^^How did Benjamin Franklins ideas contribute to the ‘American Dream’?^^

\
Franklin’s autobiography became an important document in shaping American character and expectations

* talked about what would later be known as the ‘American Dream’ saying one could fashion their own economic and social status through possible merits
* limitless possibilities to those who were honest and virtuous

^^What is the link between the American Constitution?^^

*‘all men are created equal’* with the right to *‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’*

perpetuated the myth that everyone would have equal opportunity in America and this ‘dream’ could be achieved through hard work