What About Now?

You've all heard some time or another that you shouldn't be blinded by the luxurious and extravagant portrayal of the Roaring Twenties. Well, it's true. And F. Scott Fitzgerald, with his love for money and parties, knew it when he wrote The Great Gatsby. In just a single scene, he managed to capture the sheer desperation that Americans during the 1920s had for the illusion that everything was well and prospering: When Myrtle Wilson and her companions arrived at the New York apartment, she had already changed twice. This time, in "an elaborate afternoon dress of cream-colored chiffon." (page 30. The Great Gatsby) The gradual increase in her pretense of sophistication and elegance of a lady as well as her haughtiness could be noted from when she left with Tom and Nick from her home in the Valley of Ashes. Her attempt to appear above her class is similar to the way many Americans wanted to distance themselves from tragedies of the First World War. Many believed that the new inventions, as well as the new opportunities that presented themselves after the war, would help them become happier and wealthy. When in reality,  many were still suffering from PTSD of WW1 and poverty was prevalent. Americans during that time didn’t realize this, which is why all their money spending and partying eventually led them to one of the most devastating times in American history. Although situations hadn’t been as desperate on such a national level as the Great Depression, this has happened repeatedly over again in the years to come after the 1920s. During the 1950s and 60s, the American Dream was what most people painted the United States as. All while, racial oppression as well as the Cold War and PTSD from WW2 were major issues that people tried to overlook and mask. I can’t but think that this should also be applied to the 21st century, NOW. We have to stop looking at the surface of things, not at what is popular in the news. We can’t just assume that everything is alright and that those are the only problems that we have. We should look perceptively and deeper into our society and make sure nothing like the Great Depression or others of the like happens again.