The unsteady progress on the new frontier of the 1920’s As reflected in Francis scott key fitzgerald’s the great gatsby

Oleh :
Anggoro Setyadi - C1395002 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

ABSTRACT This thesis is an American Studies research that focuses on a discussion “The Unsteady Progress on the New Frontier of the 1920’s as Reflected in Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.” Relating to the discussion, the researcher formulates a problem: “What factors that make the Americans on the New Frontier of the 1920’s unsteady in progress.” Since this thesis is the American Studies research, therefore interdisciplinary approaches should be applied to achieve the aim of the research. It means that the researcher uses more than one approach to answer the issue about the unsteady progress in the American modern society of the 1920’s. In this case, the approaches are based on the aspects of history and sociology. From the historical aspect, the analysis refers to the American frontier experience that is essential to understand the American modern society of the 1920’s who are unsteady in expressing their idea of progress. From the sociological aspect, the analysis refers to the social phenomena in the American modern society of the 1920’s including various fields of social study to find out what factors that make them unsteady in progress. From the analysis, the researcher finds that the Americans on the New Frontier of the 1920’s tend to be lawless in expressing their idea of progress. Besides, their struggle for success is determined more by capital than by effort. They represent selfish and monetary values that pursue pleasure only without a willingness to conquer the unknown or to make constant development and change the way the country needs to grow. Meanwhile, the frontier’s idea of progress has taught a strong sense of self-reliance to build a new better world with all its opportunities and challenging future. To come into conclusion, thus, the researcher finds that the Americans on the New Frontier of the 1920’s tend to be the users rather than the subduers. They live in a generation by stressing more on a result or instant success than on a gradual and increased process.