The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1448 Words

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald chronicles the life of Jay Gatsby, a self-made man, narrated by a social outsider named Nick Carraway. The story takes place in New York during the Roaring Twenties. In this decade, American’s lives were characterized by a fascination with new technology, great wealth, and an increased emphasis on social activities and leisure. In addition, many Americans engaged in binge drinking despite Prohibition laws which made the consumption of alcohol illegal. In order to avoid arrest, Americans would smuggle illegally purchased alcohol into private social events and there consume it in excess. This dangerous behavior, in the context of secrecy and exclusivity, caused many Americans to re-evaluate their life†¦show more content†¦During a private social gathering at Tom Buchanan’s East Egg apartment, a rarely inebriated Nick decides to read a 1920’s book titled, Simon called Peter. Nick describes this book as, â€Å"terribl e stuff or the whiskey distorted things, because it didn t make any sense† (29). Fitzgerald makes use of the allusion to this popular novel that centers around an adulterous priest in order to parallel the unprincipled world of the novel with the amoral world that Nick lives in. Fitzgerald conveys that the lifestyles of the characters in Nick’s world are illogical and problematic, especially the promiscuous sexual behaviors of Tom and Myrtle. Fitzgerald utilizes Nick, the most principled character in the story, to highlight the ethical breakdown of a society into which he does not successfully assimilate. The irony of a priest committing adultery illuminates the lack of moral character in Simon called Peter. Nick fails to see the void in moral character in his own society due to the inebriating effects of â€Å"the whiskey†. During the same evening, Nick describes a second bottle of alcohol â€Å"in constant demand by all present,† with the exception of M yrtle’s sister, Catherine, â€Å"who felt just as good on nothing at all†(35). Catherine exemplifies a character who does not require alcohol as a prerequisite for happiness. By not needing alcohol to find happiness, Fitzgerald hints at other motivations for alcohol consumption. Her character foreshadows the complex