Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2020/Fall/105/Section059/The Gambler

Overview

This is an entry based on the Federal Writers' Project biography of an unnamed Gambler during the Great Depression. This was Folder 284, titled "A Gambler's Philosophy" in the Federal Writers' Project. Written by John Abner and Edwin Massengill on May 10, 1939.

Biography

This person’s personal story is the story of a rags to riches and an American Dream fulfilled. However, he feels that he led an unfulfilled life and the biography ends as he reflects on his overall dissatisfaction with his life. This gambler ran a very successful gambling business and seemed like the epitome of the American dream. He grew up poor, and when he was 18 was forced to become independent. Without any education or marketable skills he turned to gambling, his passion, to survive and live on his own. He was good enough that he got enough money to support himself as he lived in an apartment. Boredom caught up to him and naturally going out and gambling everyday was tiresome, thus he started his own gambling business during the beginning of the Nation’s great depression. Starting off gambling with friends, and in clubs, he decided to start his own gambling club. He says it was because ambition, “the thing that drives every man.” With one friend and a “negro staffer”, he started the club. Eventually, this venture became very successful and he became rich. He, “Had more money than he knew what to do with.” This would be an inspirational story of determination and the promise of America, but, in reality the gambler was deeply depressed. He reflects on his personal life, he had no friends, family, or goals. He was decidedly unfulfilled despite his conventional success. He started counting cards (cheating) which eventually the customers caught onto and he lost customers and thus the business. Still rich but alone, he reflected on his life. He was miserable, disheartened because he didn’t contribute to the world, provide value to others, or have any real relationships.

Social Issues (American Dream and Economics)

This gambler’s life could be a reflection of that era of American history, the roaring 20s, where lavishness and materialistic gain were the focus of people's lives.(4) It seemed like such a great era, and such a great life, but led to the great depression because of the shallow thinking.(2) Both this era of American history and this gambler, needed to take a look at what was important to them and what truly would have led to sustained satisfaction. Both American history and the gambler fell into a great depression due to the recklessness of the wrong life values.(1)

This excerpt is a commentary on the American dream. The gambler is an example of America at the time and of what greed and selfishness leads to. As time passes and he becomes more successful but realizes he has been unhappy his entire life despite growing success. He reflects and thinks about his bad habits and concludes that he worshipped monetary success which left him unsatisfied.(5)The excerpt was written during the end of the golden era and beginning of the Great depression in America. This person's experience represented a larger societal problem of the US being too indulgent and carefree, which ultimately led to a collapse and hard crash to reality for both the country and this man.(6)

Another issue that this biography could serve as a commentary on is capitalistic economics. Going from dirt poor to recklessly rich in one lifetime is an example of the extreme economic mobility of capitalism. During the 1920s, only in America could such a jump have been possible. This huge lifestyle change is rightfully an inspiration about the promise of America for people all around the world.The positives of this American society also had negatives. One’s ability to do whatever they pleased and be able to go from nothing to everything all based solely on their own characteristics feels like the epitome of human experience. This is balanced out by shallowness of vain values. Ultimately, the indulgence of this gambler shows that, in America, we can have everything we ever wanted but it does not lead to happiness unless we also chase intrinsic values.(3)

*Note: No picture able to be inserted because no original picture taken of the topics at hand

Bibliography

1)Makridis, Christos, and Erin McGuire. “Refined by Fire: The Great Depression and Entrepreneurship,” May 14, 2019. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3371991.

2)Binde, Per. “Why People Gamble: a Model with Five Motivational Dimensions.” International Gambling Studies 13, no. 1 (2012): 81–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2012.712150. 3)Easterlin, Richard A. “Lost in Transition: Life Satisfaction on the Road to Capitalism.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 71, no. 2 (2009): 130–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2009.04.003.

4)Meredith, Roy Wayne, “Gambling in a Time of Despair.” Quillette, January 20, 2020. https://quillette.com/2020/01/13/gambling-in-a-time-of-despair/.

5)“Non-Materialistic Life Goals Lead to Happiness.” happiness.com. Accessed September 29, 2020. https://www.happiness.com/en/magazine/personal-growth/non-materialistic-life-goals-happiness/

6)Stepek, John. “How America's Roaring '20s Paved the Way for the Great Depression.” MoneyWeek. MoneyWeek, November 10, 2017. https://moneyweek.com/476326/how-americas-roaring-20s-paved-the-way-for-the-great-depression.