Alcohol in "The Great Gatsby"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines essay highlights the importance of alcohol in upper class 1920's America illustrated in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby." With reference to values surrounding wealth, etiquette and class, the essay illustrates how Fitzgerald uses alcohol to represent the contradictory feelings in upper class America; although there is a dinstinctive feeling of energy and euphoria in the era, this is underlined by crisis and unease.

From the Paper:

"Alcohol also seems to contribute to the distinctive energy of America. It has a direct effect on mood, leading to heightened euphoria and sociability. Such high spirits ensure the success of Gatsby's parties, where "cocktails permeate the garden outside until the air is alive with chatter and laughter" (p.42). Intoxicated, his guests are happy and carefree. Indeed, alcohol is credited for the confidence of a girl who dances alone at one party; she "seizes a cocktail" and dumps it down for courage? (p.43). The positive effects of alcohol are also apparent at other points in the novel. A visitor to West Egg becomes more pleasant through drinking: "the woman said nothing" until unexpectedly, after two highballs, she became cordial? (p.99). Alcohol also helps overturn some of the social restrictions of polite society."

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