The Great Gatsby is set in the time period of the “Roaring 20’s”. It is no secret that prohibition was a huge thing during this time period. Prohibition was a nation wide ban on the consumption and sale of alcohol which lasted from 1920 to 1933. Although alcohol was banned, that did not stop the demand for alcohol. This led to many speakeasies, bootleggers, and an increase of crime. In The Great Gatsby alcohol was involed at the majority of gatherings, even though it was during the height of prohibition. Jay Gatsby was a gangster in the novel and might have made most of his money by selling alcohol. This would explain how he was able to have so much of the illegal substance at his parties. If the novel had been set in a different time period, Gatsby would most likely have not been a gangster at all.
Another significant aspect of the “Roaring 20’s” was an economic boom. This came following the end of World War 1. This boom started the beggining of a consumer culture which we can very clearly see in The Great Gatsby. Many things that made life easier started being produced like cars and household appliances. Automobiles play a big deal into the novel and ultimately lead to the death of two people: Myrtle Wilson and Jay Gatsby. Cars were used to display wealth when they first came out. We can see Tom even brag to Wilson about the Rolls Royce he borrows from Gatsby.
Another key aspect of the “Roaring 20’s” was womens rights. The 19th amendment was passed in 1919, so women start to become more empowered during the 1920’s. There was an increase of working women in the 1920’s even though we do not directly see this in the novel. Divorced women became more popular during this time period. We do see Daisy contemplate leaving Tom, but she loves the lifestyle he gives her.
The “Roaring 20’s” made The Great Gatsby novel so profound. If the novel had been set today we might see Gatsby as some drug addict living in LA with the love of his life, Daisy, being a crystal seller. All of this being said, F. Scott Fitzgerald incorporated the time period perfectly into the novel.