Getting Ready for Gatsby: Let's Travel Back in Time!

Together as a class we are beginning another novel together.  I know I say this of many books, but The Great Gatsby really is one of my favorites.  The storyline may seem remote to you, however, if you don't know much about the setting.  Today you have a chance to share what you know about the 1920's, the decline of the American Dream, the morals and values of the upper class, and so on.

This is a picture of the Crick estate

This is a picture of the Gould estate

This is Westbury Gardens

This is Princeton Blair Hall



It is hard for some of us to imagine such wealth as the mansions above or what it might be like to be born into such money that finding a job would never be necessary.  This is a time in our history when the rich were getting richer, World War I had just ended, and business was corrupt.  Any of you watch HBO's Boardwalk Empire?  It provides an interesting view into rum running, crime gangs and police corruption, and very wealthy businessmen.  During this time period, class distinctions seem apparent.  "Old money" blue bloods snub the newly rich, and immigrants must struggle against prejudice and lack of opportunity.

Great Gatsby is not only beautifully written (F. Scott Fitzgerald), it exposes truths about morals and unveils hypocrisy in American classes.