The Course Of Fitzgerald's Falling To Be A Victim Of Consumer Society And His Criticism On Consumerism In The Great Gatsby

In the 1920s, the United States entered an era of unprecedented prosperity. Withthe application and popularity of assembly lines and other techniques, the laborefficiency in American society had been greatly improved. As a result, endlessconsumer goods had been manufactured through assembly lines and delivered to themarkets, where the commodities were sufficient and the consumption was active.Meanwhile, American people's income and living standard were also enormouslyimproved. All these illustrated a vital, wealthy and prosperous scene of Americansociety. Fitzgerald vividly described this time as "the greatest, gaudiest spree inhistory"---the Jazz Age.The 1920s witnessed America's transformation from production society toconsumer society. World War I destroyed not only the old world order, but thetraditional morals and social customs. Growing up under the shadow of war, theyoung Americans no longer believed the lie of "the war to end all wars". As the warended, they surprisingly found "all Gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in manshaken." At the time of belief vacuum, they were apt to revolt. They did not, as theelder generations did, abide by the regulations of traditional Puritanism. Instead, theyadvocated freedom and independence, concerned the expression of unique personality,and purchased hedonism and material satisfaction.The prevailing philosophy in the Jazz Age was consumerism. Consumption cannot only satisfy the consumer's need for materials and their desire to possesscommodity. More important, consumption can provide the consumer withpsychological comfort. At that time, when money had replaced God and become theruler of the universe, consumption was a symbol of social status and identity,embodying the consumer's personal value. The booming consumerism filled theyoung generation's spiritual vacancy brought by the war and offered them a newbelief. Consequently, the young American in the 1920s cried out the slogan of "Iconsumer, therefore I am" and participated, with great enthusiasm, in the pursuit ofconsumption, hoping to seek spiritual console.F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely referred to as the laureate of the Jazz Age, Jazz Agechronicler, representative of the "Lost Generation" and the spokesman of the 1920syoung Americans. His name has been closely connected with "the roaring twenties",to which he gave the name "the Jazz Age". As a member of the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald,together with his contemporaries, had been deeply affected by consumerism.In fact, Fitzgerald himself is a writer of high commercialization. Afterexperiencing his father's business bankruptcy and tasting his repeated failure in love ivand academy caused by lack of money in Princeton, Fitzgerald had an engravedawareness to the predominant role money plays in consumer society. These earlyexperiences stimulated his desire to purchase fortune, at the same time, facilitated theformation of his consumerist attitude towards life.After becoming famous, Fitzgerald fully submerged in the tide of consumerism.He and his wife Zelda participated in the indulgent life in the Jazz Age, enjoying thesatisfaction brought by expensive consumption. They shuttled back and forth betweenluxurious hotels, attending numerous lavish feastings and revelries. In addition, theytraveled around Europe and socialized with the celebrities.The unrestrained lavishness overcharged both his fortune and his talent forliterary creation. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, Fitzgerald's incomedropped dramatically. In order to support his schizophrenic wife for the costlymedical treatment and pay his daughter's expensive tuition, he had to make a livingby churning out short stories, which led to the declining quality of his writing. Theheavy financial burden and years of exhaustion left him less vigor for writing. Todismiss the melancholy in life, Fitzgerald became an alcoholic. The strong alcoholpoisoned his body and corroded his creative tal...