Jazz Music in the Great Gatsby free essay sample

The Great Gatsby, the reader sees a common theme of corruption of the American Dream. In the sasss, the times are changing In America and morals are becoming looser and the lifestyle of the wealthy is more careless. New fashion, attitude, and music Is what nicknamed this era the Jazz Age, greatly Influencing Fitzgerald writing. He created saltcellars between many things In pop culture and the journey his characters Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and Myrtle are taking to achieve the American dream.Through the use of the lively, yet scandalous, jazz music from the sasss, Fitzgerald reflects the attitudes of the characters in The Great Gatsby at the end of innocence and prevalence of carelessness within the elite of New Works society. Jazz music was created by African Americans during the turn of the century in New Orleans. The new, upbeat music quickly became popular as it moved north to New York City. We will write a custom essay sample on Jazz Music in the Great Gatsby or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The music became especially popular with the young and wealthy, along with the risquà © dances that went along with the new music.The Jazz pavement took off In the 1 sass when big names Like Louis Armstrong emerged, nicknaming this era the Jazz Age. Jazz Itself represented the American Dream. Poverty stricken and socially last African Americans started climbing the social ladder to fame, wealth, and respect from the white upper class. Just like the story of The Great Gatsby, this American Dream was also seen as corrupt. Beyond the racial issue of white people listening to black music, activities associated with Jazz were not respected by society.Jazz music was constantly associated with parties with went and in hand with illegal drinking, shorter dresses, intimacy, and dancing. All of these things were frequent at Gatsby parties, but without his elaborate Jazz band, the mood would not be set. When Nick Caraway is conveying the image of one of Gatsby parties he describes, A whole fitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums (Fitzgerald 40).The Jazz music of the 1 cays Is one example of the scandalous lives of the elite and their elaborate parties that broke barriers for the Innovation of American culture. The lyrics of jazz music also reflected the time of the care free lifestyle. Fitzgerald like to use these lyrics in certain moments of the novel to emphasize a moment. When Gatsby was showing Daisy around his house, he had Slipperier play the piano. The song chosen was called Anti We Got Fun. Lyrics Fitzgerald included in his novel were One things sure and nothings surer, The rich get richer and the poor get- children (Fitzgerald 95).These lyrics are describing how the rich are free to live happily in their wealth without much concern for anybody else around them, while he lower classes have the responsibility of raising a family and not going out to party at night. It also shows the struggle of the middle and lower class. The wealthy are already established as so, and their wealth only continues to grow as time passes while the common man Is faced with many obstacles that consume large amounts of his money such as a mortgage or their childs education.The lyrics of jazz can Even though Jay Gatsby seemed to have everything in the American Dream such as a large house, an elaborate car, and a high social standing, he still didnt have everything he wanted. His American Dream was to get the love of his life, Daisy to fall back in love with him after she refused her proposal because of his social class and amount of money. Through corrupt ways such as bootlegging, he attained large sums of money and started hosting elaborate parties in hopes of getting Daisys attention. At one of his parties, he plays a song that Fitzgerald made up entitled Jazz History of the World. When it was finished playing, the music had such an effect on people, the en and women were falling back on each other for affection. When it came to Gatsby though, Fitzgerald wrote, No one swooned backward on Gatsby, and no French bob touched Gatsby shoulder, and no singing quartets were formed with Gatsby head for one link. (Fitzgerald 50). Even though Gatsby was surrounded by people in his own home, nobody was concerned enough with him to become close to him. Gatsby may have all the material items he needed, but he was still incredibly lonely and Just needed the affection of Daisy.