Historical Context: Organised Crime

Introduction

Organised crime formed a significant part of the cultural backdrop of The Great Gatsby.
The novel was set in the 1920s, also known as the Roaring Twenties, a period infamous for a rise in organised criminal activities.

Prohibition

The 18th Amendment, enacted in 1920, led to the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the US.
This law unintentionally created a fertile ground for organised crime to flourish as they capitalized on the demand for illegal alcohol.
In The Great Gatsby, the character Jay Gatsby is rumoured to be involved in bootlegging, linking him to the underworld of organised crime.

Speakeasies and Jazz Clubs

Illegal bars, known as speakeasies, and Jazz clubs emerged as popular social spots, where the wealthy disregarded law and indulged in bootleg alcohol.
Speakeasies played to the theme of reckless hedonism and excess, integral to the narrative of The Great Gatsby.

Economic Boom

Economic prosperity of the 1920s led to the accumulation of extreme wealth, often associated with criminal activities.
The corruptible American Dream is hence symbolised, where wealth can be acquired through illicit means, alluding to Gatsby’s mysterious fortune.

The Mafia

Organised crime groups, such as the Mafia, rose to prominence in the 1920s.
The existence of these groups underscored societal corruption that contrasts sharply with the veneer of sophistication in the novel.

Summary

In The Great Gatsby, organised crime is subtly intertwined with the narrative, reinforcing themes of the corruptible American Dream, illegal activities, and societal decadence. As a result, the background of organised crime provides significant depth to the understanding and interpretative analyses of Gatsby’s life and the critique of American society in the 1920s.