Essay The Great Gatsby - the Ku Klux Klan - 664 Words

The Great Gatsby - The Ku Klux Klan The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, provides a reflection on the societal issues and attitudes of a modernist, post-war era. The â€Å"Roaring Twenties† was an age of prosperity, consumerism and liberalism that led to unprecedented economic growth and significant changes in culture and lifestyle. The right to vote redefined women’s roles and gave rise to a â€Å"new breed† known as the flapper, that drank, wore excessive makeup, and flaunted her disdain for conventionalism. The introduction of prohibition led to an increased demand for black market alcohol and bootlegging, thereby providing a financial basis for organized crime. Despite the progression, the 1920s was an era of social tensions†¦show more content†¦Inspired by his viewing of The Birth Of A Nation, the second Ku Klux Klan was founded by William J. Simmons, a former Methodist preacher. The Klan emerged during the â€Å"nadir of American race relations† however the growth of the Klan developed in response to new anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic and prohibitionist agendas as a result of contemporary social beliefs. Members of the Ku Klux Klan promoted patriotism and the ideals of â€Å"One hundred percent Americanism†. They attacked modernist views, criticizing bootlegging, motion pictures and homosexual relationships, demanding stricter morality and a return to â€Å"pure† living. Whilst The Great Gatsby appears to portray modernist trends in social attitudes and behaviours, there are elements of Fitzgerald’s characters that reflect the xenophobic attitudes of the Ku Klux Klan. Tom Buchanan embodies the prejudicial views of his era, as his racism is evident from the beginning of the novel. He claims that white civilization will be overthrown by African-Americans, advising that â€Å"its up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will haveShow MoreRelatedProhibition : A Cold Beer On Sunday And You Can t Purchase It?1344 Words   |  6 Pagesstill a lingering effect still seen today. From 1920 to 1933, the U.S. was â€Å"without† legal alcohol. But with that, it didn’t mean that there were not illegal sellers of the desired products. With that being said, that is where Jay Gatsby, the main character of The Great Gatsby comes into the topic with his drug stores he operates. Prohibition was a time in the United S tates that shaped us into the country that we still freely live in today. The everlasting effects are still present today, such as theRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1138 Words   |  5 Pages The Roaring 20’s â€Å"There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired.† (F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby). 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The post-World War I Ku Klux Klan advocated all of the following except a. fundamentalist religion. b. opposition to birth control. c. opposition to prohibition. d. repression of pacifists. e. anti-Catholicism. 37. The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s was a reaction against a. capitalism. Read MoreThe Memorable Periold of the 1920s in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1168 Words   |  5 Pagesmemorable period in history because numerous notable events were occurring. Throughout the 1920s, commonly referred to as the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†, were the Women’s Rights Movement, Prohibition, and The Great War, among other events. Fitzgerald grew up during this era, which he described in his novel The Great Gatsby as a time when much sinfulness and immorality was occurring. Excessive drinking, extravagant parties, organized crime, and gambling were all major social issues throughout the â€Å"Roaring TwentiesRead MoreEssay Changes in American Society 1920s1228 Words   |  5 Pagesthanks to the vast quantity produced on American farms. More and more people bought their own houses through mortgages. They filled them with all kinds of consumer goods and parked their new cars in the garage. But the Roaring Twenties was also the great age of popula r entertainment. In the theatres and speakeasies vaudeville acts, singers and jazz and dance bands entertained people. The women and black during this time however, did not enjoy the same mainstream prosperity as the rest of theRead More The American Dream in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald2776 Words   |  12 PagesIntroduction The â€Å"Great Gatsby† is a very twisted and convoluted novel which was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It has been written in late 1925, the characters in the novel focus upon a fictional town of West Egg. The plot of the story depends over the mystifying millionaire, Jay Gatsby, who has an impetuous enthusiasm for one of the most beautiful women in town, Daisy Buchanan. The theme of the novel focuses upon the American Dream that shares the experiences of the revival of the World War