Socio-economic background of the roaring 20's.

The noveau riche that populate Gatsby's parties are the epitome of the vapid pursuit of material wealth. Despite the opulence and grandeur of Gatsby's legendary swarays, nobody seems particularly happy. This goes for Gatsby as well. He sits alone like a third person watching and pining after a girl (Daisy) that is more illusion than anything else. This was supposed to be the American Dream but underneath it was rotten to its core. Gatsby's parties represented the garish excess of the roaring twenties.