"The Great Gatsby" is set in 1922 after World War One. 1918 saw American reinforcements playing a vital role in delivering final victory for the allies. This gave the Americans a feeling of invincibility as industrially and economically they were way ahead of the rest of the world. This euphoria, and the feeling of triumph and relief that the war was over, created a consumer confidence that led to excessive spending as everything could be purchased on credit. This time was known as the "boom" and profligate expenditure became an everyday occurrence. In order to see if "The Great Gatsby" is purely an éxpose of 1920s America it is essential to focus meticulously on the morals and values of society at that time, the hedonistic lifestyle people led, the American dream but also eponymous Gatsby's love for Daisy.

It is imperative that an understanding of the context of "The Great...