APEngLangper711-12

"The source of real alcohol was obtained by smuggling it in from Mexico, Canada, and the West Indies. This trade, known as bootlegging, became quite profitable. Many of those who worked for the law did not help to rid of these problems, as they were able to make a little extra cash through bribes."

The roaring twenties were a tumultuous period in American history. Traditionalist values in the period essentially evaporated due to the profitable underground alcohol trade, new and more revealing fashion standards, and an all around freer lifestyle. Gatsby and Nick lived in the heart of the roaring twenties, and the effects of the period were felt by them through lavish parties and immoral behavior.

In any event, Gatsby, unprepared for life in the elite class, repeatedly misread people and events. By contrast, his protagonist Tom was in his element, read people and events accurately, and reacted toward his own survival. Gatsby doesn't have the advantages that those born into the higher classes have. He had to start on his own with no background.

"Fitzgerald resented that Zelda mined their marriage for material, as he himself had done in "Tender is the Night."

This source describes F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife, Zelda, and the relationship between them. Zelda was troubled woman who suffered from mental illness. No matter her mental state, she knew she was Fitzgerald's muse, finally giving in and marrying him after he became successful enough. While the marraige was not long lasting and Zelda eventually wasted away in a mental hospital, she was a large influence in the themes of the Great Gatsby. Her reluctance to marry a working-class man parallels Daisy, who decided to marry Tom in order to pursue a better appearance.

"The whole notion of taste, as refined food sensibilities, is class-based. Members of lower classes often strive to emulate the taste and taste practices of higher classes, who in turn attempt to change their notions of taste and eating behavior to maintain the distinction between themselves and those perceived as of lower status."

"CLASS, SOCIAL. Social class or social stratification is defined by unequal access to desirable resources (such as money, goods, and services) or personal gratification (such as prestige or respect). "

This article focuses on the two main social classes, working class and wealthy. Various elements of society are built around the distinction of classes like food. Although this article goes on to focus on food, it is still relevant to the social disparity evident in "The Great Gatsby".

"Fitzgerald draws a contrast between the immorality and shallowness of the East and the innocence and virtue of the West, highlighting the persistence of illusions and dreams in the face of sordid reality."

This article expresses the symbolism and themes in "The Great Gatsby". The article focuses on Fitzgerald and how his life relates to the novel. The article gives insight into the author and the events of the novel.

"F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece The Great Gatsby (1925) is the quintessential tale of the American dream: the heights a man may reach, the past he can discard, the joy he may (or may not) find, and the tragedy that living the dream may bring him. "

"Fitzgerald writes about the traditional white American dream which is born out of capitalistic ideals, and, thus, reliant on material acquisitions and attaining high social status."

This article's main focus is on "The Great Gatsby" and the elements it encompasses. The article discusses the literary techniques, basic plot, and authorial purpose. "The Great Gatsby" is a novel about the American Dream and one man's pursuit of his own part of that dream. Gatsby strives to achieve wealth and success yet once he's there he is not happy without Daisy. Daisy is the ultimate object. She is a person that embodies wealth and status.

"Money, as he had learned from his flamboyantly spoiled wife Zelda, is only the starting point for a different functional relationship with the world"

"Wealth is certainly the stuff of envy. When the dispirited have-nots, despairing of their ability to create a better life for themselves, rebel, they are likely to massacre the haves, as they did during the French and Russian revolutions. "

This article discusses the differences between wealthy people and the rest of the population. The article tells of the upbringings of wealthy offspring and the different priorities they are taught. The importance the rich place on image and status is one such priority Daisy and others place above all else. The source is great for a paper focusing on social disparity and social consciousness.

"and similarly criticized the rich thugs with no values, tapped into cultural pessimism, and gave readers a glimpse into chaos. The Great Gatsby is the tale of the irresponsible rich"

This quote shows that the overview look on The Great Gatsby is about the irresponsible rich, who do not take responsibility for their actions, because they believe their money excludes them from ethics.

This source goes over the jungle and discusses the historical facts it presents on the treatment of the workers and the horrors of the meatpacking industry that Sinclair goes into.

"is destroyed by his devotion to a worthless woman and by his confusion of money with love"

This quote shows again how the rich characters in Fitzgerald's novel have clouded vision, and cannot see that money is not the answer to all a persons problems. This is mainly due to the reality that they can get out of any situation with their money.

"By the 1890s the nation was approaching a state of crisis. With increased on industrialization in the workplace is becoming ever more dangerous, and businesses refuse to accept responsibility for injuries to workers"

This source shows the politics of the gilded age of America, which was highlighted by the lack of responsibility of the government and business owners. This fits perfectly into the theme of Gatsby, where the rich people go to Gatsby's party to get drunk and wreak things, and not have to take the blame for it.

shows the moral decay of the rich in the great gatsby (appearance vs reality)

This introduces another book similar to the great gatsby for possible use in the paper.

Through his portrayal of the events in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald condemns the lack of morality and spirituality during the 1920's. He portrays the 1920's as a time where society has substituted materialism and instant gratification in place of structure and spirituality.

An interesting analysis of the symbolism and message of the novel. I think the best part was the end, where it notes that the very end of the novel demonstrates that "Hope is lost, but that's no matter, we will still keep trying--and who knows, one day maybe we can accomplish our dreams."

Getting It Right The Publishing Process and the Correction of Factual Errors – with Reference to The Great Gatsby by Matthew J. Bruccoli A sense of the fundamental textual decencies is parceled out unequally at birth. Editors who are otherwise sound oppose the correction of factual errors in critical editions.

Pablo Escobar, like Gatsby, made his fortune illegally selling a controlled substance (Escobar controlled the cocaine cartels of Colombia). Demonstrates that businesses, similar in their unscrupulousness to Gatsby's business, are still viable more contemporarily than the 1920s.

A little insight on how Gatsby made his fortune. Like the businesses in Fast Food Nation and the Jungle, Gatsby profits through arguably unethical and definitely illegal actions (in his case, illegally distributing alcohol during Prohibition).

This article discusses The Great Gatsby's revived popularity as an effect of the increasing economic inequality between the wealthy and the poor as well as reasons contributing to his unhappiness, such as his lack of real friends. 

"The pursuit of happiness soon turned into the pursuit of wealth and ultimately to greed" This relates to the capitalist business model seen in FFN, GOW, TJ and NaD in which all the business owners work to gain a profit, despite the situation they place their employees. Material wealth is seen taking over the ideals of society, a concept that the members of the Eggs exhibit through their ostentatious parties and affluence. 

This site discusses The Great Gatsby as a image of the culture of the 1920s, including the significance of the automobiles and the american dream. Gatsby's objectification of people and need for material gain to reach his goals is connected to the growth of the leisure class during this time period, which is dubbed "a culture of consumption."