Weekly Synthesis No. 3

The theme of this week three’s classes was of an excitement that spiraled down into desperation. During the 1920s, there was a wave of capitalistic thrills, accompanying the backlash of progressive advancements that were removed in a desperation to return to normalcy. Some consider that a sexual revolution occurred in the 20s, with all their excitement with women’s rights, the young women of the time became flappers. One of which was Zelda Fitzgerald, who was all-too happy to have sex, but desperate to be faithful; while F. Scott Fitzgerald loved her so desperately that he worried he wasn’t good enough for her. Mrs. Fitzgerald enjoyed being a flapper, pining its loss of meaning with the coming flapper women. Dorothy Parker, however, was excited to lose the flappers, desperate to return to the way things were. Characters like Jake in Earnest Hemmingway’s The Sun Also Rises also feel this bipolar attitude, he becomes excited by the presence of his friends, but desperate for the true love of Brett and quietude of his thoughts. The highs and excitement of the 20s faded into the agony of the depression, where people striked to gain food and textile workers to have rights. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected into office easily after the cold and business-like tone that Hoover showed the peope, Roosevelt, showed the people that their needs could be filled with his presence and the New Deal Campaign. Unfortunately, the desires that riled up the New Deal slowly sputtered to a stop by the late 1930s, ending nearly 10 years of reform. This past week has shown that all events have a rise and fall, some more gentle than others.