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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
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
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