Alcohol In The Great Gatsby

Alcohol
is a central symbol in . Through it, the reader can see the importance of
appearances over truth in the minds of the central .

It is important to
understand that The Greattakes place during the prohibition era. During
this time, the production and sale of alcohol was illegal in the United States. However, the
laws made no mention of owning or consuming it. Regardless of where the alcohol came from, it
was incredibly popular, lending credence to the idea that banning something only makes people
want it more.

Over the course of the story, everyone drinks heavily and
often, but it is considered unseemly to question where the substance might be coming from. The
Buchanan family prides themselves on being made of "old money." They consider their
class to be valuable beyond their financial means, because they inherited their wealth. Because
of this, they consider Gatsby to be an upstart. Rumors circulate about where Gatsby may have
acquired his fortune, and a...