The 1920's and The Great Gatsby.
The Jazz Age and the Roaring 20's are just a couple of the names coined for this interesting era of increased pleasure and changing attitudes that redefined a still young nation. Being pulled into one if not the greatest wars of all time began a journey for America. During the war thousands of people endured great hardship and misery. The nation was concentrating on war not fun. Upon the return of the soldiers people wanted some relief and enjoyment. This feeling came through the revolutionary attitudes of the 1920's. Though the war was grave it triggered a command over how America would forever be influenced. Prosperity created a new found culture dominated by material objects and position in society coupled with the help of many outlandishly extravagant parties. Much of the nation began to further itself from its once ruling moral values and embarked on a journey of self interest and financial success. No one novel or one man for that matter has captivated such an era as that of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Experiencing first hand the life of a characteristic 1920's individual, Fitzgerald participated in every aspect of surplus and extravagance. The Great Gatsby begins with the nonjudgmental man Nick Carraway moving to as he describes "the ragged edge of the universe after his many adventures experienced in the war. " After arriving to his new home Nick meets with his cousin Daisy, her husband Tom Buchanan and their friend Jordan Baker. Within the discovery of Tom's mistress and Daisy's bored unhappiness, he hears through many quickly forgotten words and unfinished conversations of a Mr. Gatsby, a next door neighbor of Nick's. This builds up a mysterious fervor into a growing infatuation of curiosity. After meeting Gatsby the enigma still stands for the only thing Nick is certain about is Gatsby's hopeless love for Daisy. Gatsby's undying affection for his lost love finds hope in that one night Daisy will wander accidentally into one of his stranger filled parties personified by his longing gaze toward a solitary green light blinking near Daisy's presence.