The 1920s in America were a decade of great social change. Fromfashion to politics, forces clashed to produce a very ^Roaring^decade. Jazz sounds dominated the music industry. It was the age ofprohibition, the age of prosperity, and the age of downfall. It wasthe age of everything, and this can be witnessed through the novel byF. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. The Roaring Twenties helpcreate Gatsby’s character. Gatsby’s participation in the bootleggingbusiness, the extravagant parties he throws, and the wealthy, carelesslifestyle the Buchanans represent are all vivid pictures of that timeframe. It turns out, although he was used and abused by all the peoplewhom he thought of as friends, Jay Gatsby ^turned out alright in theend.^ (Fitzgerald 6) It almost seems as if he is better off dead,according to the narrator, because all his so-called ^friends^ eitherdeserted him or used him for their own personal gain. There are signsof this all! throughout the novel, but it is especially evident in thefinal chapters. In chapter seven, when Myrtle Wilson is killed, Daisyaccepts no responsibility for Myrtle^s death. She just sits back andlets Gatsby take all the blame for her actions. Gatsby is very willingto do so, because of the love he has for Daisy. All Gatsby can thinkabout after the accident is what Daisy went through, it was as if^Daisy^s reaction was the only thing that mattered.^ (Fitzgerald 151)Gatsby stands outside of Daisy and Tom^s house for hours, waiting for asign from Daisy that things were alright. ^I want to wait here tillDaisy goes to bed.^ (Fitzgerald 153) Inside, as she talks with Tom,Daisy shows no remorse, she just continues with her life as if it neverhappened. In chapter eight, Gatsby recounts for Nick all the memorieshe has of Daisy and him together. ^She was the first ^nice^ girl hehad ever known.^ (Fitzgerald 155) ^…Daisy, gleaming like silver…^(Fitzgerald 157) This makes it especially hard for Nick to see Gatsbystill in love with Daisy. While around Gatsby, Daisy either pretendsto be, or is in love with Gatsby. This is evidenced when Daisy ^pulledhis (Gatsby^s) face down kissing him in the mouth.^ (Fitzgerald 122)Then when she is in her kitchen with Tom after Myrtle^s death, ^therewas an unmistakable air of natural intimacy…they were conspiringtogether.^ (Fitzgerald 152) In the final chapter, Gatsby^s funeraltakes place; however, no ^friends^ that had frequented his parties,with the exception of owl-eyes, bother to come to his funeral. Noteven Tom and Daisy attended. They ^…had gone away early thatafternoon, and taken baggage with them.^ (Fitzgerald 172) Nickdesperately ^wanted to get someone for him.^ (Fitzgerald 172) Nickwent to New York to see Meyer Wolfsheim, but Wolfsheim ^can^t get mixedup in it…my own rule is to let everything alone.^ (Fitzgerald 180)Klipspringer wasn^t sure if he could make it, because he was supposedto go out for a picnic with some Greenwich friends. The only people atthe funeral were Nick, Mr. Gatz (Gatsby^s father,) owl-eyes, theminister, the postman from West Egg, and four or five servants.
Through all of this, it seems as though Gatsby was better off dead. Hedidn^t realize it, but he was being used by practically everyone aroundhim. Daisy and Tom, the partygoers, pretty well everyone but Nick. Itgoes to show that wealth can lead to corruption in the human heart andsoul. Fitzgerald shows how this affluent society had a hollow core ofpretense and emptiness, and how many of the wealthy were cruel andheartless. This decade began with an uproar and ended with an uproar,and truly earned the name ^The Roaring Twenties.^
