Alcoholic Lifestyle in ‘This Side of Paradise’

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4.1.2 Alcoholic Lifestyle in ‘This Side of Paradise’

Basically, alcohol has been the integral part of American culture for a long time, but the problem of alcoholic as their lifestyle has increasingly affected the society after World War I. This symptom indeed could be seen by the new generation’s thought in early 1920’s which consider alcohol as the pleasure of their lifestyle. It can be proved by alcohol drinks that always been a part of any occasion that they held, either in formal or informal party. However, these symptoms as the result also indicated many problems of alcoholism addict to American society later, which transformed them to have negative personality, behavior, or even emotional state of stability. With the harmful of the alcoholic addiction, government then decided to declare the eighteen amendments which prohibit the sale, transportation and manufacture of alcohol in America . But even though the sale of alcohol was illegal, alcoholic drinks were still widely available at black market places. Beside that, many people also still kept private bars to serve their guests, where they also got large quantities of alcohol from another country which provides this commodity. This side of Paradise is one of the example of literary work that describes the condition of early 1920’s in America, including the alcoholism addicted of young generation at that time. It can be seen by the character of Amory Blaine and his friends, where they used to drink alcohol in their spare time, or any occasion that they had. Thus, their alcoholic lifestyle can be proved trough this quotation below. Universitas Sumatera Utara 27 “Up to the flat,” suggested Phoebe. “We’ve got brandy and fizz— and everything’s slow down here to-night.” Amory considered quickly. He hadn’t been drinking, and decided that if he took no more, it would be reasonably discreet for him to trot along in the party.” Fitzgerald, 1996: 82 “Come on, Amory, stick ‘th us” “Sick, are you?” “Sit down a second” “Take some water.” “Take a little brandy ….” Fitzgerald, 1996: 84 This quotation become one prove that drinking alcohol already become the lifestyle of American teenagers’ party. Even though Amory is not an alcoholic drinker in the beginning, but the alcoholic lifestyle of his friends has also affected him to become a drinker too. These conversations also emphasize how alcohols had a big influence in early 1920’s to the society for becoming an alcoholic addicted. Another description also can be seen from Kerry character where he buys alcohols drinks like ‘brandy’ for accompanying his trips with his friends, which give clear explanation of how alcohols have been the common drink for American society in their spare time. The proved can be seen in this quotation. “In one place Kerry took up a collection for the French War Orphans which netted a dollar and twenty cents, and with this they bought some brandy in case they caught cold in the night.” Fitzgerald, 1996: 58 In fact, this alcohol addicted in early 1920’s can be seen as the way of negative lifestyle for the society, especially new generation at that time. It is also Universitas Sumatera Utara 28 become one product of the great changes that occurred after World War I, which can be seen as the negative effect that caused by the war.

4.1.3 Free Love in ‘This Side of Paradise’