Impact of Prohibition in The Great Gatsby - 1678 Words

Looking back in American history, America has tended to have different phases lasting around ten years. The nineteen-twenties will always be remembered in history because of the triumphal progress in many different areas. The twenties were a time of great change in America in many different areas. The changes were in the laws, the lifestyle of women especially and the moral values that they lived by. One of the major events that sculpted this era was prohibition. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the life of crime associated with prohibition causing the enormous transformation of Jay Gatz to Jay Gatsby, and also causing a tremendous change in America. During the 1920’s many different people had problems with dinking,†¦show more content†¦Restaurant businesses began to fail due to the ban on alcohol, and many had to close their doors. Also the ban caused many different breweries, bars, and saloon to close causing thousands to lose their source of income (Unintended Consequences). The consequences of shutting down all of the alcohol is not felt in America’s economy today which has made an even larger bounce back since the sale of alcohol became illegal. Even with the sale of alcohol illegal, speakeasies started to pop up within the larger cities. These speakeasies were very private and very selective about the type of people that they let in to their speakeasies. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald paints a picture of a speakeasy where Jay takes Nick to for lunch. The clubs location is very secretive and only the elite of New York City are allowed to gain axis to this club. At the club some of New York City’s most famous and notorious members of high society are present and Jay introduces Nick to some of them (Fitzgerald 73). This is one of the first times that Nick is introduced to the high powered men of New York City and that they are all in a sense above the law and are connected with the speakeasies. He recognizes some of the names of the men he is introduced to and sees that all the large business and successful men are all connected. There are also multiple drinks served there and a few drunken men present. While h e is there he is introduced to the lifestyle that Jay isShow MoreRelatedProhibition in the Great Gatsby1355 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluenced by prohibition. The prohibition law restricted the manufacturing, consumption, transportation, and sale of alcohol. The law was put into effect to lower the crime and corruption rates in the United States in the 1920s. It was also said to reduce social problems and lower taxes. In The Great Gatsby, F. 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