"The Great Gatsby" is set in the 1920's, a period known in America as the Roaring Twenties. After the end of World War I and before the stock market crash of 1929, there was a spirit of rebellion in the United States, and the great search for the American Dream and happiness continued to thrive. The people attacked the old-time stability and respectability, and in its place, they drank, partied, and grew more liberal.
In the 1920's, the United States went on an economic joy ride. Fuelled by the war, the economy was booming. The value of stocks steadily rose, spending was at an all time high, and real estate boomed. The people flocked to the city from the country and bought Model T's to get around. They danced to jazz music, drank bootleg liquor, attended sporting events in record numbers, went to the movies, and dressed in new fashions that shocked the more conservative citizens. The more daring women, often known as flappers, wore short skirts, cut their hair, and frequently dared to take a job outside the home. Radios kept everyone abreast of what was going on in this age of excess. It�s not surprising that during this rebellious period, a change was brewing in literature. Writers had brought a new realism to literature, and were calling for even greater literary freedom. Authors were encouraged to stop using restrained language, to write with realism about the problems of city life, and to incorporate bold new themes, including sex. In his book, Scott Fitzgerald followed the lead of this new realism movement.
There are many themes in this novel. The central theme, is a comparison of the corrupting influences of wealth to the purity of dreams. Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, Dan Cody, and Meyer Wolfsheim are examples of people who have been corrupted by their money. They have worked, not in all cases, to obtain their fortunes, and now that they have it, they no longer have any purpose to fulfill in their lives. They throw each other lavish parties very often, to the point of it being repetitive and boring. The way Daisy dresses, for example, she always dressed in white with accents of gold and silver (the colors of money). In spite of the wealth, she wonders what she will do with the next day, the next thirty days, and the next thirty years. Unfortunately, she doesn�t have a clue. Even her daughter, Pammy, doesn�t give any meaning to Daisy's life, for she views her child only as a toy or a plaything.
Tom is probably more purposeless than Daisy. With no real career, he plays with his horses and races his cars. He also has one meaningless affair after another. During the novel, his mistress is Myrtle Wilson. He has rented her an apartment in New York and commands her to go there for his own personal amusement whenever he desires. When he doesn�t like her behavior, he hits her: like the time they drank too much at a party and he broke her nose. For him, Myrtle is simply a toy to be used and later thrown aside. Tom also toys with her husband, George Wilson, and teases him about selling him his car; it�s his cover for hiding the fact that he is having an affair with his wife.
When Tom realizes that Daisy is involved with Gatsby, as any true hypocritical male would, he is enraged and confronts his wife's lover, Gatsby, exposing that he is a bootlegger and a nobody. Even though he admits to having many various affairs, he says he will always love his wife and comes back to her. Daisy calls him disgusting, but will never leave him in spite of Gatsby�s many attempts to try to get her to leave him. She stays because of his wealth, and the gaudy and meaningless existence they both live. After Daisy accidentally kills Myrtle, the two of them flee together, refusing to admit to any responsibility. That couple will always remain the same because there is no reason for them being together, but no reason they can see to break up. Their relationship isn�t about "the couple", it�s about their personal pleasure. It�s about living it up and not caring about why or at whose jeopardy. It�s a very hedonistic way of looking at things, and unfortunately, the way everyone looked at things in that time period.
The minor characters are also corrupted in their chase of the almighty dollar. Dan Cody makes a fortune in his copper mining business, but his life is a mess; he drinks and parties excessively, has one mistress after another, and is often involved in violence. Jordan Baker, Daisy's wealthy friend, is a champion golfer; still, she has no morals or values. She is a liar and a cheat, even moving the golf ball during her matches. Like Daisy, she seems to drift from one place to another with no roots or apprehension on where she�s going; in fact, she does not even have a real home. Meyer Wolfsheim, a shady racketeer associated with Gatsby and the underworld, is a bootlegger and a gambler; in order the make a buck, he even fixed the World Series in 1919.
It is only Gatsby who is not corrupted by his money. Although he has a large, swanky mansion, drives flashy cars, gives extravagant parties filled with excess and waste, and has far too many gaudy clothes, he has not collected his wealth or its goods for himself. Everything he has done in life has been done to fulfill his dream: to prove to Daisy that he is worthy of her. He believes that his possessions will convince his golden girl to forget the past five years of her life and marry him. When she shatters his dream by accepting Tom over him, Gatsby no longer has need for any of his possessions. If he doesn�t have Daisy, all his possessions, the house, the clothes, and the cars, mean nothing to him.
All of the wealthy characters, including Gatsby, use people and things and then discard them as trash, destined for the Valley of Ashes. Tom uses Myrtle, and she dies amongst the ash heap chasing after him. He also uses George Wilson. Gatsby uses the butlers and the cooks to provide for his parties. They are left to clean up the ravages of Saturday night on Sunday morning. Fitzgerald is clearly saying that the American Dream has gone askew. People are so into chasing the almighty dollar that they have forgotten real human values. Like Tom and Daisy, their lives wind up in the Valley of Ashes, devoid of meaning or purpose.
Fitzgerald�s main point in this novel was that wealth corrupts people and makes them believe that they can buy happiness, just like Dan Cody, Jordan Baker, and Meyer Wolfsheim. Or, buy anything for that matter. Gatsby thought he could "buy" Daisy with enough money and possessions. But it turned out it was the lifestyle she was after. When all you�re after in life is "a good time", you just might get what you wished for. But some things aren�t always what they appear to be. There are two sides to every coin, and these characters certainly haven�t made the best of their lives or fortunes. Nothing will change for them. Now that Tom and Daisy have fled. They will live like they always did, but in another location.
The hedonistic values these people have will not get them further than the tip of their noses. Nick did the right thing on moving back to the west. He proved to be the only decent person with morals in this book. The fact that he decided not pursue a life that wasn�t meant for him puts him on a higher level than his other friends. He is not a mindless follower, as were the others.
The Roaring Twenties where a crazy period in or century, both economically, and socially. But who�s to say that things are so different now than they were then. There�s just as much excess and waste, if not more than ever. The American population hasn�t any more values than it did eighty years ago, if anything it has much less. But the difference is that now, this lifestyle is promoted by the titanic corporations that control the media. It shows that nothing will ever change because money prevails over all, as usual.
Over the past 59 years endless debates have been waged on whether or not the United States, in particular President Harry Truman, were justified in using the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War ll. Was it really necessary? The situation surrounding this decision was complex. One could but imagine the dilemma that the President faced. What circumstances justified this fateful act? Many aspects had to be analyzed; like the political and diplomatic consequences of the use of such a weapon. Though responsibility for the decision to use the atomic bomb was the President�s, he exercised it only after careful study of the recommendations of his advisors. It was agreed that a committee be set up to study the situation: the Interim Committee. It played a vital role in the decision of the bomb. In June 1945, the committee submitted its report to the President, recommending unanimously that the bomb be used against Japan as soon as possible against military targets surrounded by other buildings and that it should be used without prior warning of the nature of the weapon. But the final decision was President Truman�s alone. His main reason for dropping the bombs could be summarized as such: Putting an end to the war as fast as possible with the least amount of American casualties, the unconditional surrender of Japan and revenge for the Pearl Harbor attack. Was his ultimate decision the only plausible solution left? Had not Japan been defeated and on the verge of surrender? To understand the decision, it is necessary to examine the circumstances and the options as Truman saw them in the summer of 1945.
The development of the atomic bomb began in the United States in 1939 with a small group of scientists. The program, known as the Manhattan Project, later expanded in a two-billion dollar investment. The project had two goals in mind: to harness the energy of the atom to produce a bomb and to produce it before Germany could. The success of the project remained in doubt until 1945, when the first test was successfully performed in New Mexico.
War had raged in Asia since Japan�s attack on China in 1937. The war in Europe opened the way for Japan to turn their attention to the south. In September 1940, its troops marched into French Indochina as part of its plan for Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, similar to Hitler�s New Order in Europe. Japanese aggressive expansion policy produced increasing tension with the United States. In 1940, the US reduced its sales of oil and iron scrap to Japan. Japan then strengthened its alliance with Germany and Italy. By 1941, Japan was in full wartime mode.
Japan struck on Dec 7,1941. Japanese bombers attacked US military bases at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, Guam, Midway and the Philippine Islands. The Japanese achieved their greatest expansion early in 1942. They controlled an area from the Aleutian Islands 4500 miles south to the Solomon Islands, and from Wake Island 4700 miles west to Burma. In May 1942, the Japanese fleet suffered its first major defeat when the US won the Battle of the Coral Sea. Gradually the tide turned in favor of the US and her Allies. From June 1944 onward, Japan was the subject of numerous large-scale B-29 bombing air raids. While Japan was being bombarded from the sky, the naval blockade, which was still upheld, was strangling Japan�s ability to import oil and other vital materials and its ability to produce war materials. By September 1944, Japan was completely defeated through a practically complete sea and air blockade. In May 1945, the surrender of Germany freed the Allies to focus their troops and resources on defeating the final enemy, Japan.
Early in 1945, the battle for the Japanese homeland began. Two main centers fell to the Allies. These were Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Japanese fought desperately. These battles alone produced over 50 thousand Allied dead and wounded and 109 thousand on the Japanese side. By the end of the campaigns in mid-June, the Japanese kamikazes (suicide planes and missiles) had sunk 36 vessels and had damaged 332 others. The important question in the minds of American commanders and the Truman administration was whether it was possible to persuade the Japanese government to surrender. Leaders of the Japanese army had decided to fight on whatever the cost in lives or material. A solution had to be found to give Japan no choice but to surrender. The Allies were convinced that the only way to achieve complete surrender was to destroy Japan on her main home islands. Therefore they planned to invade the Japanese home island of Kyushu in November 1945,this invasion, given the code name Operation Olympic, was to be followed in March 1946, by Operation Coronet, with an assault on the Tokyo plain of eastern Honshu, the main home island. An invasion of this size entailed the loss of many more lives from either side. The Joint Chiefs expected the two-stage invasion to involve a vast number of troops, most of them, American. Casualty estimates varied. Military planners figured that the combined US losses would exceed 500,000. To say the least, this disturbed the President immensely. He was not prepared to risk so many American lives.
Though the defeat of the enemy�s armed forces in the Japanese homeland was considered a prerequisite to Japan�s surrender, it did not follow that Japanese forces elsewhere, especially those on the Asiatic mainland,would also surrender. In preparation for this eventuality, the Joint Chiefs recommended Soviet entry into the war against Japan. They seemed convinced from the start that Soviet assistance would shorten the war and lessen the cost. It was confirmed by Stalin that the Soviet Union would eventually declare war on Japan as early as 1943, even though the Soviets had a neutrality pact signed with Japan. It was reaffirmed in February 1945, at the Yalta Conference. But by the summer of 1945 the Americans had changed their minds. What had appeared appreciated before was now less so because the war in Europe was over and Japan was virtually defeated. But after urging Stalin for three years to declare war on Japan, the US could hardly ask them to remain neutral now. The only thing they could do was to keep the intervention to a minimum, so that the Soviet Union could not lay big claims on Japan in the aftermath of war. They were against the Soviet Union sharing the occupation of Japan.
In July 1945, the heads of government of Britain, Russia and US conferred at Potsdam, Germany. Incidentally, the Potsdam Conference opened the day after President Truman learned about the successful testing of the atomic bomb. The leaders met to discuss the peace agreements with Europe and also to issue an ultimatum to Japan. Stalin reported that he had received a message prior to the conference, indicating Japan�s willingness to negotiate a peace and also its unwillingness to accept unconditional surrender. On July 26, the heads of the Allied nations issued their ultimatum calling for unconditional surrender and a just peace. They planned to occupy Japan, restrict authority on the home islands, disarm the country and bring war criminals to trial. Therefore, the terms of the Potsdam declaration demanded that the � Japanese Empire surrender immediately or face prompt and utter destruction.� It made no mention of atomic consideration nor for the retention of the Emperor�s position. A key obstacle to any Japanese surrender was the Emperor�s position. It had already come to the Presidents� attention, from members of his senior staff, including Secretary of war, Henry Stimson, that the acceptance of surrender would be augmented if the Allies did not exclude a constitutional monarchy under Japan�s present dynasty. To the Japanese, unconditional surrender meant the total destruction of their political system, including �divine� monarchy that had survived for more than one thousand years. But the constitutional line was NOT included in the surrender demand. It is no surprise that Japan virtually ignored the declaration. The Allies took this to mean a rejection of the declaration. President Truman then made his decision: the bomb was to be dropped on Japan without further warning.
On Truman�s orders, the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima August 6., killing 70,000 instantly. In the early morning of August 9th Manchuria was invaded by the Soviet Union. The Soviets had notified Japan the night of the 8th that they would be at war as of the following day. This was a blow to the Japanese for the Russians had been the only major power with which Japan still had a neutrality pact. Later, on the same morning,, the U.S dropped a second atomic bomb on the people of Nagasaki, killing 40,000. Yet after two atomic bombings, massive conventional bombings and the Soviet invasion, the Japanese government still refused to surrender. The key concern for the Japanese military was loss of honor, not Japan�s destruction. Where none of the previous events succeeded in bringing the Japanese military to surrender, surrender came at Emperor Hirohito�s request: �It is my desire that you, my Ministers of State, accede to my wishes and forthwith accept the Allied request.� Japan surrendered. The war ended with the U.S in full control of Japan.
Was Truman justified in using not one, but two atomic bombs on Japan? The President always staunchly defended the atomic bombings, declaring that: �Having found the bomb we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans.� (�Public Papers of the Presidents:Harry Truman, 1945�,pg 197). The United States did not obey international laws of warfare by targeting two cities and its civilians. Alternative plans were not carried out in their full measure. The Potsdam Declaration could have included the warning of what was to come in concise terms, i.e. the use of a bomb so powerful that it could destroy a whole city, the threat of Soviet invasion, and the assurance that the Emperor would remain, which happened nonetheless. The knowledge that the Soviets were about to declare war upon them would have destroyed any hope Japan had, for impending war on two fronts would have disabused Japan�s military leaders of their plan to mass their remaining forces against the anticipated U.S invasion. A short time prior to the atomic bombings more than sixty of Japan�s cities had been destroyed by conventional bombing, the home islands were being blockaded by the American Navy, and the Soviet Union was going to declare war on Japan. All of these factors would lead Japan to surrender in all events. Were the atomic bombings justified? No. It is likely Dwight Eisenhower was right when he said of the atomic bombings of Japan, �it wasn�t necessary to hit them with that awful thing.� (Ike on Ike, Newsweek, 11/11/63.pg 108). The atomic bomb destroyed thousands of lives within minutes , and continues destruction far beyond those few fateful minutes. The atomic bomb was not the last resort.
When asked to write about the most prominent change or constant of the twentieth century many topics come to mind. One could write about subjects that range from Adolf Hitler and how he wounded the world, to the Barbie doll that inspired a nation or even religious influence in everyday life. I, however could not quite decide which to choose from. It was then that I realised that change itself is what defines the twentieth century.
The twentieth century is known for technological advances of various types. There have been, for example, drastic changes in military warfare, sciences such as medicine and astronomy, various industries like automobile manufacturing and the replacement of humans by machines in the workforce. These are only a few of the things that constantly have been changing in the last century. One may ask why everything is always changing, change happens due to mankind's insatiable thirst of wanting more. It is in human nature to want more, therefore to change in some way what we already have, in order to make things better and more efficient. Humans are always thinking up new inventions, or cures to different diseases. As I once heard, necessity is the mother of invention.
One of the most influential technologies of the twentieth century is the computer. The beginnings of the first computer date back as far as the 1820's, however throughout the twentieth century they have been modified and customized for personal enjoyment. Today computers are used for everything and come in all sizes. They range from various desktop sizes to pocket size. Sadly these machines have become "necessary" for us to function in everyday life, for instance if I didn't have a computer I would be straining my 'poor, delicate' hand at this very moment, they way people used to. Where would we be today without the invention of the silicone chip? Not to mention the millions of dollars that go towards advances and purchases in this thriving industry. Far too many people depend on machines like computers instead of using their own grey cells. This, however is not to say that computers aren't extremely helpful devices, because they are. Without them many other fields such as medicine would not have made the advances that we see today. Computers are one of the most technological advances seen in the twentieth century nevertheless they are not the only one, although many other of the most recent inventions depend on them to function.
Medicine has also changed tremendously, if it weren't for medical research and advances people could still be dying from what is known today as the common cold. Throughout the last century cures have been found for so many illnesses that once were seen as death sentences. We can look inside a person's body by using a tiny camera or have laser surgery in order to minimize pain, time and the size of the incision. People can be on the operating table in the morning and at home the very same evening. Modern medicine is a great marvel. Can you imagine working as a doctor in the city and be able to treat patients in the north? I recently have been privileged enough to witness some of the latest medical technology of that sort. Soon doctors in the city will be able to diagnose and treat patients in remote areas due to telecommunication. There have also been tremendous improvements in x-rays, now known as medical imaging.
Military forces have proven to be a pertinent influence in the twentieth century. The previous century is marked with two World Wars as well as the rise and fall of various political ideologies and propaganda. With each war came different views, different rationalisations, and methods of conformity, different propaganda and prejudice, as well as different political leaders. Many things changed during the twenty year war gap, in armoury and tactics. Different peace movements came about as well as more equal civil rights.
Technology, however is not the only thing that has continually changed throughout this time. Fashion, music and society itself have changed to certain degrees as well. Every decade can be known for something. Examples of this are the 40's for war, the 50's for go-go skirts, 60's for hippies and 70's for disco and freedom, and of course the 80's for its specific music genre and clothing style. A good example of this is the Barbie doll. Barbie, now approximately forty five years old has changed her appearance to keep up with the so-called race against time, and the endless changes in what is "in" during that particular era. She is not alone in this quest. Men women and children are always striving to fit in.
In conclusion, all of the above factors are examples of different changes that occurred during the last century. The twentieth century is one of constant change, which will continue due to that insatiable human condition of wanting more.
By May of 1945, the primary focus of World War II was shifted towards the Empire of Japan. The Allies has already received the surrender of Germany, and it was the only axis power to maintain its control. There were two major offensives launched by the Americans which turned the tides of the Pacific war. The first was the battle for Iwo Jima on February 1945. The second was the assault on the island of Okinawa in early April. The success in capturing these islands allowed the US military to launch air attacks on mainland Japan. The island of Okinawa specifically, was planned to be used as a base where Operation Olympic -the codename for a major assault on the Japan- would commence. But such an offensive never happened. Instead, World War II ended by the use of two Atomic bombs. "Little Boy" destroyed the city of Hiroshima on the 6th of August 1945 and three days later, "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki. The bombs destroyed the cities into ruins and as a consequence, an estimate of 200 000 civilians died. Although this hastened the end of the Pacific war, the profound number of victims continues to cloud the decision of the US government to use the atomic bombs with controversy. Those who oppose the use of the bombs argues that the death of nearly 200 000 Japanese civilians were apparently too much a sacrifice, and that there were more suitable choices that could have been pursued. But we must keep in mind that the situation at that time was complex and that the option to use the A-bombs was the most solid in its ability to handle the current circumstances. It was a hard verdict to make, yet most appropriate.
The initial motive in starting the Manhattan Project in spring of 1942 was based on the worries that Germany has already started their own development of the atomic bomb. But this threat ended three years later as Germany surrendered. Until this time on, the discussion to use the Atomic bomb on Japan was under the consideration of President Truman and his staff. One major influence of this contemplation was the fact that the Pacific war against Japan was the most deadly naval campaign in history. The success of capturing two small islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa alone, took a toll of more than 75,000 Americans, and 120,000 Japanese. These battles also gave the US the reality of the Bushido (Warrior) mentality of the Japanese people. According to historian Ian Gow , "The immense cost of capturing the island (Okinawa) �did undoubtedly have a considerable influence on the decision to use the atomic bombs...The experience of Okinawa convinced them that invasion was to high a price to pay.". With this in mind, American military planners were still preparing for a final assault on Japan. Code named Operation Olympic, US forces would attack starting on the island of Kyushu. But it is evident that Japan would defend vigorously. Ketsu-Go a counter operation to Olympic would include 9,000-10,000 aircrafts, more than 2,000,000 ground troops, supported with 13 million gallons of fuel. Due to this heavy defense, an estimate of more than 700,000 US troops were predicted to be killed. If we add this number with the possible Japanese civilians and soldiers that could die, the numbers could well reach over 1 million lives.
When we compare the scenario above with the actual number of victims, the use of the A-bombs saved more than it killed. 200,000 civilians is indeed a huge number. But sadly, such an amount of victims were nothing extraordinary in the context of World War II. As the bloodiest war that ever occurred in history, scores of thousand of innocent lives were taken, daily. This happened in London, in Stalingrad, in Dresden, throughout the war. The firestorm launch by the Americans in Tokyo on March 9th, 1945 for example, killed approximately 260,000 civilians. 60,000 more died in this city than in Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined, and at that time it wasn't enough to convince the Japanese military to surrender.
Under these circumstances, was there any other choices left for the US government, knowing the possible vicious outcome of Operation Olympic? Opinions against the use of the A-bombs argues that a public demonstration of the bomb in a remote area near Japan would be suffice to convince the Japanese people that surrender was at their best interest. However, should this happen, the Atomic bomb as a reality, will not hit hard on them, and will not guarantee surrender. Remember, the drop of "little boy" on Hiroshima, did not force an immediate submission. It took a second before the emperor himself broke the deadlock among his key advisers. Another argument is the problem with unconditional surrender. Formulated by F. Roosevelt and W. Churchill, it was seen as irrelevant to pose in the case of Japan due to its unique culture of positioning their emperor as a divine being. However, although it was also important, US military planners were more concerned on how to save American lives. But In the end, the position of the emperor was retained anyways.
Although one of the justifications of the employment of the Atomic bombs was that it saved more lives by avoiding Operation Olympic, it would be simplifying the situation to only see it as the only reason. American concern on Soviet dominance in Europe and their desire to respond towards this was also equally influential in the making of the decision. President Truman noted that Secretary of War Stimson was," at least as much concerned with the role of the atomic bomb in shaping of history as in its capacity to shorten the war." In 1945, the Soviet was gaining ground as a world power; it possessed the largest military, it controlled vast agricultural regions of Europe, and it has already started an expansion beginning by establishing a puppet government in Poland. Another possible expansion to the Far East was a threat to the Americans, and according to Secretary of State Byrnes, the use of the atomic bombs could "make Russia more manageable in Europe". The atomic bombs used in Japan sent a message to the Soviets that they weren't the only superpower of the world. It was effective in slowing down Soviet aggression in Europe, knowing that now there is a formidable foe.
The issue of the employment of two Atomic bombs that led to the death of approximately 200,000 civilians is and will continue to be one of the most controversial and complex topics in the 20th century. The reason for was never only about "saving American lives", the arguments against is not as simple as in the name of "avoiding civilian death". The bushido culture of Japan, the possible death of more than 1 million lives, prejudice, the agony of a long war, and the Soviet factor, all contributed in the drop of "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" on early August of 1945. However, whatever one might believe to be the real reason of this act, the outcome of this event stands clear. It saved more lives than it killed, it was able to shorten the war significantly and it gave some sort of control towards Soviet aggression in Europe. It might not be perfect, but the use of the atomic bombs to end World War II was the most appropriate decision in response to the situation of the world at that time. Nevertheless, this sort of method to achieve victory should not be celebrated, it should be regretted that humanity has reached the point where such violent, cruel acts are required to achieve peace.