The Great Gatsby was set in the Jazz Age, a period of unprecedented social and cultural change in America. The 1920s saw the rise of consumer culture, the popularity of jazz music, and a rejection of traditional Victorian values in favor of more liberated lifestyles.
Gatsby's parties exemplified the excesses of this era, with endless champagne, jazz orchestras, and beautiful people dancing late into the night. The war had shattered old certainties, and a new generation was determined to enjoy life to the fullest, regardless of the consequences.
However, Fitzgerald used this glamorous setting to critique the moral emptiness behind the facade of revelry. The Jazz Age was not just about freedom and pleasure; it was also about the loss of traditional values and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.