Understanding the background about both the time period
and the author can help to enhance the understanding of the reader.
He was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul Minnesota. He moved back and forth form Upstate New York and St. Paul, landing in St. Paul at the age of 12. At the age of 13, his first writing was published. At 15, he moved to New Jeresy to attend a school and he met Father Sigourney, and he is who encouraged Fitzgerald to pursue writing.
He dropped out of Princeton University to attend the US Army. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925. He struggled with alcholism and his wife had a mental illness.
Fitzgerald was a person who was in support of change, innovation, and human advancement. He was a big believer in social improvement as well. He was married to Zelda, who refused to marry him, until a week after his first book was published.
The Great Gatsby takes place during the 1920's also known as the "Roaring Twenties". During this time there was a drastic change in both social and political norms. As a nation, the wealth of the country about doubled during this time, without the knowledge that at the end of this decade, the stock market would crash.
The prohibition was created in hopes to reduce the crime rate in America, boost personal hygiene, and solve social problems.
Women earned the right to vote in 1920. Women who were working increased by 25 percent. The clothing also changed to be more convient for the women.
The stock markert was raising rapidly until August of 1929. Then, on October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed and would known as, Black Tuesday.
America as a whole was favoring the taste of alcohol, and wanting to be intoxicated.
Wealth that is aquired within their lifetime, this is considered to be a lower class than old money. This includes people like: John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and John Jacob Astor.
Inherited money and this kind of wealth is associated with status. This includes people like: John P. Morgan, Thomas A. Mellon, and Andrew Carnegie.
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