Context Flashcards
General Context
The novel is set in the Jazz Age, also known as the Roaring Twenties, a period of cultural and social change in America.
It was written in 1925, reflecting the post-war American society and the emerging modernity of the time.
Symbolism:
The dentistry billboard symbolizes the eyes of God, observing the moral failure of society, and also represents death.
Fitzgerald employs poetic language influenced by the Romantic age, despite writing in the Modernist period.
Literary Influences:
Fitzgerald was influenced by Modernist poet T.S. Eliot, particularly his poem “The Waste Land,” which critiques modernity and its impact on nature.
The Valley of Ashes in the novel alludes to this wasteland, echoing both writers’ criticism of modern society.
Themes and Genre:
Considered a Realist novel, it explores themes of sex and adultery to emphasize realism.
It’s also viewed as social satire, employing irony, exaggeration, and ridicule to mock the hedonism of 1920s America.
Psychoanalysis and Dreams:
The novel reflects the development of psychoanalysis, suggesting that people are not as rational and controlled as they perceive themselves to be.
Women’s Context:
Daisy’s character is based on Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda, who came from the upper classes and enjoyed wealth and material comforts.
Despite societal changes granting women more autonomy, they were still expected to conform to traditional roles of marriage and domesticity.
Flappers and Gender Norms:
Flappers subverted social and gender norms, representing a world of young hedonism and challenging traditional expectations.
Jordan serves as a foil to Daisy, embracing her femininity while also challenging societal norms.
American Dream:
The American Dream portrayed America as the “land of opportunity,” where hard work could lead to social mobility and success.
The novel explores the tragic reality of the American Dream, demonstrating its fallibility and the disparities in wealth and class in 1920s society.
