The Great Gatsby: The Roaring Twenties The 1920s in America were a decade of great social change. From fashion to politics, forces collided to create a truly roaring decade. Jazz sounds have dominated the music industry. It was the Prohibition Era, the Prosperity Era, and the Fall Era. It was the era of everything, and F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, testifies to this. The Roaring Twenties help create Gatsby's character. Gatsby's participation in the bootlegging business, the extravagant parties he throws, and the wealthy, carefree lifestyle that the Buchanans represent are all vivid images of that period. It turns out that, despite being used and abused by all the people he considered friends, Jay Gatsby ^turned out all right in the end.^ (Fitzgerald 6) It almost seems like he's better off dead, according to the narrator, because all his so-called ^ friends^ abandoned him or used him for their own personal gain. There are signs of all this! throughout the novel, but is especially evident in the final chapters. In chapter seven, when Myrtle Wilson is killed, Daisy takes no responsibility for Myrtle's death. He sits back and lets Gatsby take all the blame for his actions. Gatsby is very willing to do this, because of the love he feels for Daisy. All Gatsby can think about after the accident is what Daisy went through, it was as if Daisy's reaction was the only thing that mattered. (Fitzgerald 151) Gatsby stands outside Daisy and Tom's house for hours, waiting for a sign. from Daisy that things were fine. ^I want to wait here until Daisy goes to bed.^ (Fitzgerald 153) Internally, while talking to Tom, Daisy shows no remorse, she simply continues with her life as if it never happened. In chapter eight, Gatsby tells Nick all the memories he has of him and Daisy together. ^She was the first ^beautiful^ girl he had ever known.^ (Fitzgerald 155) ^...Daisy, shining like silver...^(Fitzgerald 157) This makes it especially difficult for Nick to see Gatsby still in love with Daisy. While hanging out with Gatsby, Daisy pretends to be or is in love with Gatsby. This is evidenced when Daisy ^pulled her (Gatsby^s) face down by kissing him on the mouth.^ (Fitzgerald 122) Then when she is in her kitchen with Tom after Myrtle's death, ^there was an unmistakable air of natural intimacy.. .they were conspiring together.^ (Fitzgerald 152) In the final chapter, Gatsby's funeral takes place; however, no ^friends^ who had attended his parties, except Owl-Eyes, bothered to come to his funeral.