The names attributed to this period such as The Roaring Twenties or the The Jazz Age reflect the changes in American life after World War I with economic growth resulting from mass production and mass consumption. The introduction of the phonograph and motion picture gave rise to a new popular culture. In the new consumer culture of leisure and entertainment young Americans pursued their personal freedom and happiness which reflected a change in moral conduct. Gatsby's big parties evokes this aspect of the American society in the 1920s, where fun- loving wild, superfluous people, consume food, music and liquor in their pursuit for happ

Gatsby's goal of getting Daisy back is what finally costs him his life. He fails reaching the goal but at least he had a dream that gave him a purpose in life, contrary to the upper class that the Buchanans represent where the material comforts and luxuries makes them ignorant and empty of purpose. «What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon? cried Daisy, and the day after that, and the next thirty years?» (The Great Gatsby, p.113) In the novel Fizgerald documents what happened to the America in the 1920s, when the old values behind the ideal of the self-made man, somehow got corrupted by the pursuit of wealth. Money is clearly one of the central proponent of dream's destruction. To Gatsby the American Dream of success is the same as gaining a lot of money and material goods no matter if his fortune is made legally or not. This replacement is evident in Gatsby's dealing with organized crime which can't be said to appear in the American Dream guidelines. Gatsby doesn't seem to feel ashamed of his illegal business but still keeps it hidden well. But he is eager to show his wealth to the rest of the world, buying many very expensive things like his house, cars and not to mention his clothes. He shows Daisy his cabinet filled with suits, and his numerous shirts of all kinds of beautiful colors. It seems like all his belongings are just to impress people. Not that strange then the surprise the owl-eyed man shows discovering that all the books at Gatsby's library are real and carefully picked.

Position is important in the novel. Class and social standing can be seen in the social discrimination that exists between the East and West Egg. Tom and Daisy live on the East Egg with only other rich people who have been brought up with money and are far more refined and well bred than Nick and Gatsby who are on the West which is for people who haven't any real standing even if they have money. The West has more of a Hollywood style with a lot of people from the movie industry and other people with newer money than those on the East Egg. Between the two eggs at the Long Island and New York city is the Valley of Ashes where the working class lives their much more dull and hard life than at the Eggs. The devision among the classes cannot be overcome. Gatsby may have more money than the Buchanans but he will not be allowed entrance in the world of the upper class that the Buchanans represent, as Nick says about Daisy «in a moment she looked at me with an absolute smirk on her lovely face as if she had asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged» (The Great Gatsby, 22). This secret society will not accept anyone who's not born with a membership. Gatsby who at least has the money fails and Myrtle who is poor, is doomed to fail entering the upper class. She tries to enter by having an affair with Tom as a ticket to a better life. But she never succeeds in her attempt and ends up corrupt like the rich and becomes very arrogant towards people from her own class. She is clearly an example of what money can do to a person. Her life ends tragically when she gets run over and killed by Daisy who just continues driving fast and careless without slowing down. The tragic death of Myrtle can be compared with the death of Gatsby, both pushing themselves towards the same impossible goal dying in the attempt of reaching it. Though Gatsby was killed by Myrtle's husband, his death clearly points out his failure reaching his goal as no one but one of the hundreds of people he offered hospitality at his party shows up in his funeral. And not a sign from Daisy even though Gatsby gave his life to protect her.

iness. At Gatsby's parties, we meet a lot of people drin

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2505
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)