Jay Gatsby is a wealthy bootlegger who is heavily involved in the criminal underworld and is partners with Meyer Wolfshiem. While Gatsby plays the role of an Oxford-educated aristocrat, he is actually in charge of a lucrative bootlegging business, which is an extensive operation based in several major US cities, including Chicago and Detroit. According to Tom Buchanan, Gatsby and Wolfshiem own numerous pharmacies in several big cities, where they secretly sell illegal alcohol over the counters. In order for Gatsby to oversee his businesses, he must stay in constant contact with his employees located in various big cities, which is why he is continually receiving long-distance phone calls. During Gatsby's parties and meetings, he is constantly interrupted by mysterious phone calls, which involve his bootlegging business. These mysterious phone calls add to the enigmatic, suspicious aura surrounding Jay Gatsby for the majority of the story.
Since Gatsby is known to be a successful businessman, we can assume his frequent phone calls are related to his mysterious business dealings. Guests at Gatsby's elaborate parties enjoy speculating on their elusive host, including details such as where he is from and how he has made his fortune, but confirmation of his exact business is not given until Gatsby and Tom quarrel in New York. Although Gatsby is intentionally vague regarding his work, we learn from Tom that Gatsby is involved in bootlegging, or the illegal sale of alcohol during the prohibition era. Producing, importing, transporting and selling alcohol was illegal in the United States from 1920 through 1933, which made bootlegging a lucrative business during the time of The Great Gatsby. Gatsby is a wealthy tycoon who is not only conducting a successful business but also managing an illegal operation cloaked in secrecy, logically explaining the frequent phone calls he receives.
No comments:
Post a Comment