The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby: Setting 1 key example

Definition of Setting

Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis:

The Great Gatsby is set during the Jazz Age, a time period spanning the 1920s and 30s when jazz music and dance became popular in the U.S. and, in turn, influenced American culture. The novel takes place toward the beginning of the period, in 1922. Gatsby’s author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, was the first to popularize the term “Jazz Age” with his short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age. This era was characterized by a general rebelliousness among young people, many of whom had more carefree attitudes about social etiquette, substance use, modesty, and sex than past generations. Women during this time began to play a more active role in society and culture—working outside the home in increasing numbers, socializing more freely, demanding the same legal rights as men, and even becoming famous entertainers. Additionally, white Americans began to be influenced by Black American culture (as jazz was a Black American artistic movement).