Cultural Context and Hedonism in The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is deeply rooted in the cultural and economic context of the 1920s, a period marked by hedonism and extravagance following World War I and the flu pandemic. This era created a desire for escapism as people sought to forget their struggles, leading to lavish parties and a lifestyle of excess, which is vividly portrayed in the novel. Fitzgerald captures this restless spirit through the characters' ceaseless pursuits of pleasure, yet foreshadows the inevitable decline of such a lifestyle, hinting at the impending Great Depression. The combination of joyous living and the acknowledgment that the party cannot last resonates powerfully with contemporary societal issues surrounding wealth concentration and escapism in today’s culture.