reflections of the social class

8/14/2019 Reflections of the Social Class

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Social Class; TheSocial Class; The

InterconnectionsInterconnectionsImage AutomobileImage Automobile

Ownership as well asOwnership as well asProsperity in theProsperity in the

1920s1920sBy: Jeremy PrairieBy: Jeremy Prairie


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DiagramDiagram


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PP Industrialization of newIndustrialization of new

inventions cause gapsinventions cause gaps

between the socialbetween the social

classes because thoseclasses because those

who are more prosperouswho are more prosperouswere the only ones whowere the only ones who

could afford highercould afford higher

quality automobilesquality automobiles

during the 1920s.during the 1920s.


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EE When are you goingWhen are you going

to sell me that car?to sell me that car?

Next week; Ive gotNext week; Ive gotmy man working on itmy man working on it

now. Works prettynow. Works pretty

slow, dont he? p25slow, dont he? p25


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PP During the earlyDuring the early

1920s, cars were a1920s, cars were a

status symbol forstatus symbol for

the upper classes.the upper classes.

With the arrival ofWith the arrival of

the Model T,the Model T,

however, cars alsohowever, cars also

became a statusbecame a status

symbol for thesymbol for the

middle classes.middle classes.


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II

All car owners during the earlyAll car owners during the early1920s were considered to be1920s were considered to bewealthy people because theywealthy people because theycould actually afford a vehicle.could actually afford a vehicle.

This would only change untilThis would only change untilthe new Model-T came outthe new Model-T came out

because it was very cheap andbecause it was very cheap andmany middle class peoplemany middle class peoplecould now afford a car. Also bycould now afford a car. Also bylooking at the evidence fromlooking at the evidence fromthe text you can see thatthe text you can see thatWilson is very concerned aboutWilson is very concerned about

the car and Tom could car lessthe car and Tom could car lessabout it because he is muchabout it because he is muchwealthier.wealthier.


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PPThe introductionThe introduction

of automobilesof automobiles

promotes apromotes a

display of socialdisplay of socialstature instature in

society, as wellsociety, as well

as how muchas how muchmoney a personmoney a person

makes.makes.


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EE

On week-ends hisOn week-ends his

Rolls-Royce becameRolls-Royce became

an omnibus bearingan omnibus bearingparties to and fromparties to and from

the city between ninethe city between nine

in the morning andin the morning and

long past midnightlong past midnightp39p39


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PP

AutomobilesAutomobiles

continued to be acontinued to be a

means of expressingmeans of expressing

social status, andsocial status, and

accessories wereaccessories were

being designed tobeing designed to

personalize onespersonalize ones

car and project acar and project a

certain image tocertain image to

other people.other people.


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II People who ownedPeople who owned

a car back thena car back then

were considered towere considered to

have some heighthave some heightof wealth and whenof wealth and when

they drove theirthey drove their

car around a lowercar around a lower

class area peopleclass area peopleknew they were inknew they were in

the upper class.the upper class.


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PP People who are inPeople who are in

the lower classesthe lower classes

value cars andvalue cars and

other vehiclesother vehiclesmuch moremuch more

because anbecause an

individual whoindividual who

owns a car isowns a car isviewed asviewed as

wealthier person.wealthier person.


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EE His beat downHis beat down

station wagonstation wagon

scampered like ascampered like abrisk yellow bug tobrisk yellow bug to

meet all trains.meet all trains.

p40p40


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PP

Ford's well-built yetFord's well-built yetinexpensive Model T turnedinexpensive Model T turnedout to be the perfect car forout to be the perfect car forthe middle class. In 1928,the middle class. In 1928,

when half of all cars in thewhen half of all cars in theworld were Fords, the Modelworld were Fords, the ModelT sold for a remarkably lowT sold for a remarkably low$290. Owning an$290. Owning anautomobile gave working-automobile gave working-class Americans a sense ofclass Americans a sense of

prestige that permittedprestige that permittedthem to emulate thethem to emulate thelifestyles of capitalistlifestyles of capitalistelites.elites.


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II Now that people inNow that people in

the middle an even athe middle an even afew in the lower classfew in the lower classcould now afford acould now afford a

car, they began tocar, they began tovalue it much morevalue it much morethan a wealthy personthan a wealthy personcould. This is becausecould. This is becausethey could now use athey could now use a

vehicle to help themvehicle to help themearn an honest living.earn an honest living.


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SynthesisSynthesis Automobiles created a very significant display ofAutomobiles created a very significant display of

the differences between the social stature classesthe differences between the social stature classesduring the 1920s, the time where the bookduring the 1920s, the time where the bookTheTheGreat GatsbyGreat Gatsby took place. In the early 20s mosttook place. In the early 20s mostpeople who owned a car were classified as richpeople who owned a car were classified as rich

just by looking at them. This is because back thenjust by looking at them. This is because back thencars were very expensive and many middle classcars were very expensive and many middle classpeople could not afford them, until the Model-Tpeople could not afford them, until the Model-Tcame out. In the time of the novel most middlecame out. In the time of the novel most middleclass individuals idolized people who ownedclass individuals idolized people who owned

vehicles. Therefore automobiles demonstrate thevehicles. Therefore automobiles demonstrate theconnections between vehicle ownership andconnections between vehicle ownership andprosperity.prosperity.

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