Text-to-world/text-to-text connection

A text-to-world connection is made in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, thus giving the reader a greater apprehension of the novel’s confrontations, both physical and emotional. One of the themes that is constantly stressed on throughout the novel is the American dream. This American dream continues to be everyone’s main priority present-day. It is advertised through various ways such as actions, speech, and media. Gatsby himself went from “rags to riches” and Daisy’s voice was “full of money” (120), therefore promoting the American dream. All around the world people are in need and pursuit of money, even Wilson admits, “but I need money pretty bad” (123). A text-to-text connection is also made, thus providing general concepts in history. In the provision of the CUSD U.S. history textbook, The American Vision: Modern Times, I read and learned about the “Roaring 20s”, the time period in which The Great Gatsby takes place. In this time period, prohibition was established, which resulted in an increase of crime rates, such as bootlegging. Al Capone was one of the well-known and richest experts in illegal business, especially bootlegging. He relates to Gatsby because Gatsby was a wealthy man and even considered “some big bootlegger” (107). Many “of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers,” reasserts Tom Buchanan. These text connections add an apprehensible knowledge that can apply to anyone or anything, for we all have interest in success and as U.S. citizens, we all have learned our country’s history.