The Great Gatsby: Context: Prohibition

The Great Gatsby: Context - Prohibition

General Overview of Prohibition:

Prohibition in America was a constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It lasted from 1920 to 1933.
A key reason behind Prohibition was the temperance movement, driven by various social and religious groups who believed that alcohol was the root cause of many societal issues, including domestic violence and poverty.
Despite the restrictions, illegal bars known as ‘speakeasies’ flourished, as did the illegal manufacture and sale of alcohol, leading to the rise of organised crime, such as the infamous Chicago Outfit led by Al Capone.

Prohibition’s Impact on Society and Culture:

The illegal liquor trade during Prohibition led to an increase in organized crime and corruption within law enforcement and politics.
The era was known for its hedonistic lifestyle, with secret bars and clubs offering escape and entertainment, often characterised by jazz music and the iconic ‘flapper’ girls. This reflects the decadence and excess portrayed in The Great Gatsby.
It was a time of great disparity and social inequality, with the wealthier classes able to evade the law more easily, either by frequenting speakeasies or stocking up on alcohol before the ban.

Connection to The Great Gatsby:

In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s wealth is speculated to have come from bootlegging, i.e., the illegal production and distribution of alcohol during Prohibition.
The novel’s extravagant parties, fuelled by bootlegged alcohol, epitomise the hedonism and disregard for law that characterised the Roaring Twenties.
The characterisation of Tom and Daisy Buchanan as careless people who smash things up and retreat into their wealth and vast carelessness echo the wealth disparity and social carelessness fostered by the Prohibition era.
The set of morals presented by characters in the novel, like their relaxed attitude towards infidelity and reckless lifestyle, are reflective of the great societal changes during Prohibition.

Examining Fitzgerald’s Perspective:

F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of Gatsby, was known to be a heavy drinker, and the negative portrayal of alcohol consumption in his novel could be interpreted as a critique of excessive drinking.
Fitzgerald is known to have disapproved of the decadence and superficial excess of the Roaring Twenties - which Prohibition, paradoxically, helped accelerate. This is portrayed through the moral decline of his characters and the ultimate tragedy that befalls Gatsby, who can be seen as a victim of the era’s unfettered materialism and hedonism.