the roaring twenties and the great gatsby english 3 – mr. mcgowan
TRANSCRIPT
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)
Literature – “Harlem Renaissance”Literature – “Harlem Renaissance”
Langston Hughes (far left)
Claude McKay
Zora Neale Hurston
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Home to Harlem
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
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
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.
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
1933 – Prohibition repealed (211933 – Prohibition repealed (21stst
Amendment)Amendment)
1941 – World War II1941 – World War II
Aftermath