Talk of the Town
Every Monday morning the name heard around town, no matter where you venture to, is Jay Gatsby. Those of you who are unfamiliar with the social elite’s nightlife, Gatsby is unquestionably one of the most wealthy men in the area. He lives in a grandiose mansion on West Egg that’s stature could compete with the homes of East Egg’s old money. All of his opulent parties are forcing him into the spotlight. The new local celebrity has had a questionable past, he is certainly wealthy, however no one is too sure what he has done to get it. Upon recent interviews, most have said that he went to Oxford College, which can be supported by his love for literature, an older man who has attended Gatsby’s parties has said that his library is lined with real books. But beyond that the only things that shed light on the enigma that is Gatsby are rumors. A young girl that frequents his parties told me in a recent interview, “You look at him sometimes when he thinks no one is looking at him. I’ll bet he killed a man”. However her sister quickly corrected her, “I don’t think it’s so much that… it’s more that he was a German spy during the war.” Fantastic stories such as these are the buzz around town. Despite the rumors, everyone can agree that Gatsby’s parties are worth the mystery. Neighbors of his have confirmed that every Friday Gatsby has five crates of lemons and oranges delivered to him from a fruiterer in New York. He has a very modern machine that makes juice out of the fruit he receives. He has his fleet of gardeners erect a very large Christmas tree in his garden before all of his parties. He has food made from his chefs into beautiful shapes, gardened with the most exquisite ingredients. He also takes great measures to provide his guests with an assortment of alcohol. Some have expressed surprise at the openness that Gatsby possesses when purchasing alcohol, however in the world of wealth, this is highly common. The Act of Prohibition, passed in 1920 to restrict alcohol consumption, has not affected the rich. If you have the purchasing power, the government cannot restrict the distribution of alcohol. Most of the wealthy citizens of New York view alcohol as another way to flaunt their wealth. However, many also do not want to be tied with the new money corruption taking place in the boot legging industry, Gatsby does not seem to mind this connection. Whatever his past may be, everyone is in agreement that his present and future are promising, and Jay Gatsby is without a question the new up and comer of this year.
This gossip column talks of Gatsby's lavish parties that take place in the book. Quotes of guests from Gatsby's parties were taken from the book and different information about Gatsby's parties were taken from the book. This article examines Gatsby's parties in historical context relating to other types of parties in the 1920s. The article reflects others opinions of Jay Gatsby, and the misconceptions that were carried with these opinions.
