In The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald we see the Roaring 20s in the eyes of Mr. Nick Caraway.
Quote 1: "so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air." this shows the living conditions of the coal miners at this point in time.
Quote 1: "so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air." this shows the living conditions of the coal miners at this point in time.
This image shows the actual conditions of the towns based off of coal mining.
Quote 2: "He’s the man who fixed the World’s Series back in 1919.
"Fixed the World’s Series?" I repeated.
The idea staggered me. I remembered of course that the World’s Series had been fixed in 1919 but if I had thought of it at all I would have thought of it as a thing that merely HAPPENED"
This shows how people of this time were willing to do anything.
Quote 2: "He’s the man who fixed the World’s Series back in 1919.
"Fixed the World’s Series?" I repeated.
The idea staggered me. I remembered of course that the World’s Series had been fixed in 1919 but if I had thought of it at all I would have thought of it as a thing that merely HAPPENED"
This shows how people of this time were willing to do anything.
This is actual footage of the 1919 where the White Socks threw the game to the Reds.
Quote 3: "He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher—shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange with monograms of Indian blue. "
This shows how the lavish and well endowed households were typically dressed.
Quote 3: "He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher—shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange with monograms of Indian blue. "
This shows how the lavish and well endowed households were typically dressed.
This is an advertisement for Kuppenheimer, they were a clothing chain that specialized in wealthier dress.
Quote 4: "Well, you take my coupé and let me drive your car to town."
The suggestion was distasteful to Gatsby. "I don’t think there’s much gas," he objected.
"Plenty of gas," said Tom boisterously. He looked at the gauge. "And if it runs out I can stop at a drug store. You can buy anything at a drug store nowadays."
Drug Stores were a staple of this time. They were our common day Wal-Marts because generally if you couldn't find something you just need to go to the drug store.
Quote 4: "Well, you take my coupé and let me drive your car to town."
The suggestion was distasteful to Gatsby. "I don’t think there’s much gas," he objected.
"Plenty of gas," said Tom boisterously. He looked at the gauge. "And if it runs out I can stop at a drug store. You can buy anything at a drug store nowadays."
Drug Stores were a staple of this time. They were our common day Wal-Marts because generally if you couldn't find something you just need to go to the drug store.
This was what the front counter of the Pharmacies, and Drug Stores would typically look like. As you can see they would have many items just readily available for whoever need them.
Quote 5: "Fifty feet from the door a dozen headlights illuminated a bizarre and tumultuous scene"
Cars were a new and big thing in this time, it was part of the "American dream" to be the proud owner of your own vehicle.
Quote 5: "Fifty feet from the door a dozen headlights illuminated a bizarre and tumultuous scene"
Cars were a new and big thing in this time, it was part of the "American dream" to be the proud owner of your own vehicle.
Here we have a 1920s' Model T ford
This is an 1920s' Coupe. This is the style of car the Gatsby, and Tom would have been driving.
Citations:
Anthracite Coal Breaker and Power House Buildings, Madrid, New Mexico. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web.
Anthracite Coal Breaker and Power House Buildings, Madrid, New Mexico. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web.