The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1641 Words

New York Culture in the 1920s Often referred to as â€Å"the playground of the wealthy†, New York City’s culture in the 1920s plays a crucial role in the development of many of the characters of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. New York City increasingly gains attention, and it soon becomes known as â€Å"the city that never sleeps† during the 1920s. As massive skyscrapers begin to transform the city’s skyline, the automobile industry experiences a boom in auto sales; thus contributing to New York City’s modernity. Meanwhile, business is making a significant impact on the lives of everyday folks. No longer is it only the interest of the wealthy, because more and more commoners feel the need to get involved with economics. Thus, it can be†¦show more content†¦In Harold Bloom’s literary analysis, â€Å"Jay Gatsby†, he describes the city’s atmosphere as â€Å"a world of broken relationships and false relationships, a world of money and success rather than of a social responsibility, a world in which individuals are all too free to determine their moral destinies† (127). Soon, business and the world of money take over most of the U.S. Around this time, people are starting to become more independent and confident about their surroundings. They also become as much materialistic as people can get and suddenly, their possessions define who they were as individuals. Subsequently, lives are lived in competition, fame, and glory. Business and economics become a major part of what New Yorkers focused on. This leads to the stock market crash of 1929 which soon follows suit. In Lisa McCallum’s essay, she explains, â€Å"The stock market crash in New York City on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1921, devastated the U.S. economy and wiped out the fortunes and life savings of many investors. The event market at the end of the securities boom of the 1920s and the beginning of the Great Depression† (1). When the economy failed, people were resorting to â€Å"shady† business and sly tactics as a means of acquiring money. As a result, they become rich while other investors suffer in misery, lamenting about the loss of their wealth. The city’s booming population contributes to the appearance of modern apartment buildings as well as new-fangled