The Great Gatsby Context: Prohibition and Organised Crime

-

Information 

-In 1920, the 18th Amendment said that the manufacture and sale of alcohol was now illegal, which was called Prohibition.
- However many people during this period rebelled and continued to drink and sell alcohol.
- 'Gangsters' as they were known made a lot of money during this period in America.
- There were many reasons as to why this ban was put in place and one of them was because the Anti-Saloon League argued that drinking alcohol was ruining the American way of life.
- Another reason was that some people felt that the consumption went against God's will, while others thought it was unfair for people to be drinking and having a good time while people were having to be at war
- However, In 1929 Prohibition was said to have failed and so the 21st Amendment was passed lifting the ban on manufacturing and selling alcohol. 
- Prohibition had failed for many reasons one of which being that there wasn't enough prohibition officers to re-enforce the law and also a lot of americans would go and socially drink in what were known as 'speakeasies'. These were social bars/clubs where it was claimed to be serving 'soft drinks' but really served illegal alcohol.
- However one of the main reasons that prohibition failed was because of massive outburst in 'organised crime' which people such as Al Capone were heavily involved in. Organised Crime and gang-led murders were a lot more common during times of prohibition which is anther reason why it ended in 1929.
- Organised crime is when groups of criminals have control over specific areas and they engage in illegal activity
- During this time period 'gangsters' would fight each other for control of certain city areas and they would then partake in illegally selling alcohol and make great sums of money.

How is this relevant to The Great Gatsby?

This is relevant to Fitzgerald's novel 'The Great Gatsby" because throughout the book the way in which Gatsby gains his wealth is unknown and it is referenced continually that he may have achieved it through 'bootlegging'. Bootlegging was a term used at the time for when you make, distribute or sell alcohol illegally. Of course considering the context of Prohibition, (as discussed above), this was extremely relevant and would explain why Gatsby had so much money. Although this is never fully explained in the novel and has a somewhat ambiguous tone throughout the book. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Great Gatsby: Biographical Criticism

-
Image
F.Scott Fitzgerlad Biographical Criticism: Biographical Criticism is a form of literary criticism which analyses a writer's biography to show the connection between the author's life and their works of literature. When studying the authors biography, you can begin to see similarities between the works produced and the life the author has lived. Not only this, but you can also see the parallel of created scenarios in their literature and their own life, proving that many author's books have a self-biography nature. In summary, biographical criticism is merely an extension of contextual criticism that focuses solely around the writer's experiences and how these relate to their literary works. How does this apply to The Great Gatsby? Relationships: There are many similarities between F.Scott Fitzgerald's life and what is written about during The Great Gatsby. Firstly, Daisy is a character whom Gatsby is seen fantasising over and longing after for so long du...
Read more

'For My Lover, Returning To His Wife' - Anne Sexton

-
Image
Title: For My Lover, Returning To His Wife Poet: Anne Sexton Publication Date: 1969 "Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard" - Anne Sexton "She is all there. She was melted carefully down for you and cast up from your childhood, cast up from your one hundred favourite aggies. She has always been there, my darling. She is, in fact, exquisite. Fireworks in the dull middle of February and as real as a cast-iron pot. Let's face it, I have been momentary. A luxury. A bright red sloop in the harbor. My hair rising like smoke from the car window. Littleneck clams out of season. She is more than that. She is your have to have, has grown you your practical your tropical growth. This is not an experiment. She is all harmony. She sees to oars and oarlocks for the dinghy, has placed wild flowers at the window at breakfast, sat by the potter's wheel at midday, set forth three children under the moon, three cherubs drawn by Miche...
Read more

The Great Gatsby ~ Chapter 1

-
Image
Summary Chapter One begins with Narrator Nick establishing his views on society and the eway he views hismelf. This is followed by Nick attending his 'old friends' grand and impressive mansion where he learns of the underlying tensions beneath the seemingly secure fascade, repsrenting the ultimate American Dream. Characater Ananlysis Nick ~ Nick is the omniscient narrator throughout this novel and he makes his apparent opinions and views clear in this first chapter. He makes the statement: "I'm inclined to reserve all judgements"  From the beginning we see a clear indication that tries to present his character in a 'good' light and attempts not to hold personal opinions on people. However he continues to contradicts himself as he passes many judgment of people throughout the book and even in this first chapter, making the characters appear a certain way. He makes many side comments about situations which suggest that he is going to present h...
Read more