The American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis - 903 Words

The American Dream: A Fruitless Endeavour The 1920’s, famously known as the Jazz Age, was a major turning point in America’s soaring economy. However, as a result, amassing wealth in exorbitant amounts and throwing extravagant parties became socially acceptable and the conservatism and the old-fashioned values of the 19th century were left behind. The roaring twenties also coincided with the prohibition period which saw bootleggers make millions off the sale of contraband and brought life to underground revelry. Contrary to his predecessors, Scott F Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby (1926), saw this period as a manifestation of materialism within American values, tainting them in his eyes. In the novel, Fitzgerald positions†¦show more content†¦This represents the pinnacle point in the novel, where Gatsby ties all his ambitions for wealth and class, his pursuit of the American Dream, to Daisy Buchanan. However, Daisy, a married mother, crumbles under the weight of the ideals and dreams Gatsby has instilled in her and as a result retreats to her husband Tom, despite her affection for Gatsby. It is his inability to accept defeat and his insatiable pursuit of wealth and class that ultimately leads to his demise. Subsequently, Fitzgerald suggests that Gatsby’s inevitable failure to win over Daisy, in turn represents his unattainable and materialistic pursuit of The American Dream. Myrtle Wilson also reinforces the idea that the American Dream is unattainable and corrupt. She is of low social standing, however she believes she married below her class and values herself as a high standing individual. Similar to that of Gatsby, she alters her persona in attempt to Mrs Wilson had changed her costume some time before, and was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream coloured chiffon, which gave out a continual rustle as she swept about the room. With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change. The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur. (33) It can be seen that Myrtle puts on a faà §ade in front of others to make her seem that she is of high social standing and flashes aroundShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis1497 Words   |  6 PagesFitzgerald’s novel, the Great Gatsby is one of the most meticulously written story of all time. This book incorporates different themes, yet the shadiness of the American Dream is the most significant one. The American Dream designates that one starting very low on their economic or social status and getting success and wealth trough their arduous work. Having a big house, a nice car and a happy family show the success of the American Dream. This dream is also shown by the concept of a self-madeRead MoreThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis749 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Fantasy Idealism is the paramount theme in â€Å"The Great Gatsby.† Each of the characters have a craving for self-definition and a high position in society. The story is shaped by the ideals each of these characters hold. These ideals allude to the American Dream, along with the superficiality and corruption associated with it. Fitzgerald uses Jay Gatsby as a medium to portray hopeless romanticism, fantasy fueled ambition, and failure to achieve self-contentment. Gatsby is characterizedRead MoreThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis1744 Words   |  7 Pagesthe American Dream From a distance, the American dream is a hopeful one- that anyone, regardless of race, class, or gender, can become successful and wealthy if they possess ambition and the ability to work hard. However, when scrutinized, this rosy view clearly shows ignorance towards societal issues such as misogyny, racism, and income inequality and instead focuses on the notion of having an extravagant home, fancy cars, and a happy family- all of which symbolize the great American dream. FitzgeraldRead MoreAnalysis Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1142 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream is one of the most prevalent themes in The Great Gatsby. It is essentially the belief that, regardless of social class, anyone can become wealthy and famous. In the novel, Jay Gatsby attempts to reunify with Daisy Buchanan by achieving great wealth, but he fails and dies having been unsuccessful in his mission. Though it may appear to some that Gatsby, the main character of the novel, has achieved the American Dream, it turns out to be a massive illusion. When, following Gatsby’sRead MoreThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis906 Words   |  4 PagesTorres Mrs. Heffelman English 11 September 26, 2017 The American Dream can mean a lot of different things depending on who is asked. Some will answer that it is the freedom of religion or the ability to move between class. Others define it as the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. For Jay Gatsby and many others, the American Dream is about gaining wealth and material possessions in the attemptRead MoreThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis1367 Words   |  6 Pagesidea of the American Dream, where qualities of hard work and ambition are shown. The novel The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald embodies many themes; however the most significant one relates to the corruption of the American dream. The American Dream is defined as someone starting low on the economic or social level, and working hard towards prosperity and or wealth and fame. By having money, a car, a big house, nice clothes and a happy family symbolize s the American dream. This dream also representsRead MoreThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis1428 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald contains many themes; however, the most noteworthy one identifies the American dream. This Dream likewise speaks to that people, regardless of who he or she is, can emerge to rich in life through their own works. The dream is spoken to with the aid of the mind of an unbiased man or woman, who strives to perform an objective to become tremendously effective. The Great Gatsby is a novel that indicates what happened to the American Dream in the 1920s, which wasRead MoreThe Great Gatsby American Dream Analysis761 Words   |  4 Pagesobtained. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald suggest that the American Dream is an illusory, the people who pursue it are Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and Myrtle, and this pursuit is ultimately unattainable. In the roaring twenties known as the Jazz Age, many people wanted to become rich, most people were bootleggers and Wall Street stock brokers. Alcohol was illegal and the Wall Street stocks were higher than ever before. The Great Gatsby is an extended critique of the American Dream. And this critiqueRead MoreThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis758 Words   |  4 PagesThe American dream is a idea that anyone can reach prosperity and success by determination and hard work. Everyone has equal opportunity to achieve this dream. This may not be the case in this tragic love story, The novel The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald. By corruption, unfaithfulness, and entitlement we see a different view of the American Dream. Through the characters and plot in the novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald suggests the pessimistic view that the American Dream of social mobility is aRead MoreThe Great Gatsby And The American Dream Analysis1086 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The American Dream is th at dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.† This quote by James Adams shows the concepts of a dream that is linked to hard work and opportunity. In Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Ridley Scott’s American Gangster, Gatsby and Frank portrays the theme of the destructive nature of dreams. The Great Gatsby follows the story of a charming yet mysterious man named Gatsby