Cars+in+the+1920s

media type="custom" key="339801"

media type="custom" key="346283"

[|More 1920s Cars]

One important symbol in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is the automobile. It represents the reckless convictions of the flapper society. At the beginning of the novel, the reader hears Nick's account of a party where a car wrecks and chaos abounds. Further into the work, Daisy manipulates the automobile to serve her purpose--to escape from Tom and Gatsby. As a result of her careless behavior, Myrtle Wilson dies. Myrtle, too, is reckless. Running in front of a moving vehicle that takes many feet of road to stop because it lacks our anti-lock, power brakes, Myrtle suffers the consequences of her irresponsibility. Daisy, as the driver of the automobile, does not suffer the consequences of her behavior. She hides behind Gatsby, knowing that she does not love him enough to make such a sacrifice for him. The automobile was a dangerous weapon in the hands of carefree, irresponsible people. It still is; Fitzgerald's lesson lives on. [|Link to Article] 1196911473



In the 1920s, the automobile industry was growing rapidly. Lower cost, increased wages, and mass production led to an increase in sales. Although cars were relatively inexpensive, most were purchased on installment plans. The auto boom led to better roads, more gas stations, hotels, etc. With the increase in cars on the road, accidents such as Daisy hitting Myrtle, Tom tearing the fender off of his car, and the accidents in Gatsby's driveway increased as well. It also led to the introduction of standerized signs, regulations, and traffic control methods. The carmakers of this era included Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Lincoln, and Oldsmobile. Some that have faded into the history books include Auburn, Cole, Dixie, Durant, Peerless, Winton, and many more. Most of the survivors were forced to merge into corporations such as GM. Early cars, such as those in __The Great Gatsby__, were often painted and styled to resemble the horse drawn carriages they replaced. While the inexpensive ones, George's Ford for example, were more utilitarian than say Gatsby's Rolls-Royce, which could possibly have included amenities such as hydraulic brakes, power steering, and a heater. The Ford Model T is the most affordable car. It was one of the first cars that was built on the assembly line. In the 1920s, the Model T was only $300, it was the type of car Mr. Wilson would have driven. The fancier cars however, ranged from $15,000-50,000, a way for "new money" to spend their excess wealth. "1920's Automobiles."2005.27 November 2007 <[|http://www.1920-30.com.automobiles/>.] "Automobile TImeline."27 November 2007  -Jonathan Adkins [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_T] -Russell Lawrence

media type="custom" key="346279"