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• The First World War:

  The 20s were a time of growth and prosperity, with cynicism and corruption. This dissolved into the Wall Street Crash of 1929, triggering the Great Depression in the 1930s. The lavishness of Gatsby's parties reflected this golden decade.
• The Lost Generation:

  Gertrude Stein referred to this decade as the "Lost generation" due to the absence of any morality and The lack of religion or any god. The overwhelming feel of loss and emptiness were filled by alcohol abuse.
• Flappers:

  Jordan Baker demonstrates this type of person, in her gender-neutral name, which suggests her lack of feminity. She subverts all traditions of feminity in her job as a professional golfer. She is also unmarried and childless.
• American Dream:

  Jay Gatsby personifies the American Dream, however, he never achieves this dream despite being more invested in its promise than the other characters. Myrtle is an example of the failed American Dream, she clings to the dream which eventually kills her with its cold, hard metal (the car being the personification of the AD).
• Capitalism:

  Doctor T.J Eckleburg symbolises the power of advertisements in 1920 society and the tensions between reality and appearances. The billboard becomes the only symbol of religion (when myrtle dies, George refers to it as the eyes of god). Perhaps suggesting that capitalism is religion for the god-lacking society.