American Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay

The American Dream Examples In The Great Gatsby
In the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses many different literary devices to portray the American Dream.
One example is the valley of ashes, which represents america's unhealthy obsession with wealth.
Another example is the green light, which symbolises Gatsby's longing to live a happy life with
Daisy. According to Fitzgerald, he needslove, money and society in order to be happy.
With Jay Gatsby, he needed love in order to be happy. He has a slight obsession with Daisy and has a
deep desire to be with her. Gatsby goes out of his way to throw big,elaborate parties for Daisy,
even though he doesn't like them, hoping Daisy will show up to one of them. Without Daisy,
Gatsby feels lost."And what is more I love Daisy too. Once in awhile I go off on
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The American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis
In the great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, the author shows many times that the most important thing
is the American dream that he shows through his novel, The Great Gatsby. In the novel, Fitzgerald
illustrates that the 'American Dream' is not only declining, but is an illusion and does not exist in
reality. His work suggests that no matter how much ambition, determination or work ethic one
possesses, people not born into wealth will not succeed in the struggle to overcome society and its
harshness, and will not be able to surpass society's imposed glass ceiling limitations. This is shown
by Gatsby, the valley of ashes and the green light that symbolises Gatsby's hope and dream for a life
with Daisy.
The american dream that is unattainable, as Fitzgerald's shows it by the comparison between the
west egg and the east egg.The west egg is where the new rich live those who made all of their
money via illegal ways playing the system after the World War I ended. These people do not only
want to get rich but want to seem like they were always rich. They are shown in the novel as
showoffs like gatsby's pink suit and roll royce and having a big mansion throwing lavish parties and
awkward like gatsby seems to be. Gatsby always says,"Having a good time old sport." Gatsby
always uses the word "old Sport" to fit in and look like he is from the east and he always had
money. This clearly shows the excessive need for materialistic items they want. On on the other side
the east egg is the

The American Dream In The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby depicts The United States in the 1920s. While originally, this period depicted the
Great American dream with people pursuing their goals and seeking happiness, it contained an
unfortunate turn with people running after money, riches and materialism. Towards the final stage
of the story Nick states "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy –– they smashed up things and
creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that
kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made." This clearly displays how
most of the upper society had surrounded themselves with lavish cars, posh houses, and extravagant
parties forgetting the true value of life. Fitzgerald displays that the "American dream" is not all that
people see from the outside, but that a majority of these individuals lived shallow lives, with narrow
mentalities. Everything on the outside was glistening, but the inside held many dark, and upsetting
secrets. Throughout various themes, symbols and motifs, the underlying meaning that Fitzgerald
wants revealed becomes evident. Through Chapters 5–9 the reader views, how Nick compares
Gatsby's actions to having an American dream and running after it. Ultimately, winning Daisy
back is Gatsby's American dream. He holds this goal from the start of the story, but once he
actually acquires this dream of getting back Daisy, things take a turn. When he comes across her
again and begins having an affair in Chapter 5, it seems like he can indeed achieve this dream.
Ultimately, Gatsby's friendship with Nick begins off the root of his desire to connect with Daisy.
Nick doesn't realize this at first when he arrives at the party in search of Gatsby, but after hearing
his immediate interest in setting up a meeting with Daisy, he realizes. But Nick doesn't feel used
by Gatsby because he is the only character who values his relationship with Gatsby, and believes
that he is truly a good man. In chapter 6, the readers learn about his "rags to riches story" and
realize his need to satisfy his American dream to make his life more meaningful. This back–story
allows the reader to understand who Gatsby is as a person. From the start of the story,

Carley Jones Mod 1 Throughout Fitzgerald's book, The Great Gatsby, it's essentially about the
American dream and if people had money, new or old, they could have the American dream, but
when they have it all, what do they do with it? Money can turn people into very respectable, and
polite people and they still work for what they have, or it can turn people into snobby rude people
that expect everyone to do everything for them. Long story short, money affects the way people
behave. When Tom had a temper, he became very violent, "they smashed things and creatures and
then retreated back into their money... and let other people clean up the mess they had made...".
Tom is careless because he has a lot of money so when he lashes out, other people

The 1920's was a decade of striving for prosperity and the American dream. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's
historical fiction novel, The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby builds his way up to wealth and does
everything he can to attain his goal, but is ultimately unable to attain it. Through his decision to set up
The Great Gatsby as a frame story, Fitzgerald conveys the theme that the American dream is not
necessary attainable, no matter how much one sacrifices or works towards it. From early on in the
novel, Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a mysterious, wealthy and extravagant man; he lives in an
ostentatious mansion and showcases his successes at the lavish parties he hosts. However, it is
evident that this perplexing character, despite all of his wealth and successes, continues to yearn
for even more. At the beginning of The Great Gatsby, Nick observes of Gatsby, "...he stretched out
his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he
was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward– and distinguished nothing except a single green
light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock" (Fitzgerald 26). It is later
revealed that Daisy, who Gatsby loves and hopes to reunite with, lives at the house at the end of
the dock with the green light. Ultimately, Daisy and the green light are motivations for Gatsby that
recur throughout the novel. This single green light that Gatsby reached out to with quivering arms
represents the American dream that drove the goals and hopes of Americans during this time.
After careful planning and being attentive to miniscule details, towards the middle of the novel
Gatsby is finally reunited with Daisy. After five years of creating and recreating this ideal image
of Daisy and their reunion, Gatsby's expectations of her grew. Upon reaching his goal of being
reunited with the one he loves, it appears that the excitement and anticipation of his dream
diminished. Towards the middle of The Great Gatsby, Gatsby states to Daisy, "'If it wasn't for the
mist we could see your home across the bay,' said Gatsby. 'You always have a green light that burns
all night at the end of your dock.'...Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance

The Great Gatsby (American Dream)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a fictional novel about a young man's life , narrated by
his closest friend Nick. This young extravagantly wealthy man known as Mr.Gatsby, lived in the
1920's and represented the american dream in many different ways. In F. Scott Fitzgerald "The Great
Gatsby" Tom and Daisy were born into this weathiness. Gatsby on the other hand had to work for
his money by going to the army. In the Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald wanted to display the
elusiveness of the American Dream and how more money makes the society during this time
period lose their morality. Gatsby came from a very poor background with lack of education. As
he started to build his own dreams forgetting about what happened in the past and he tried to build
his own dream from scratch. Which after in the novel showed he became very successful man.
He showed a true example of living the life of the American dream that by hard work, motivation
and with no support we can live a lavish life like an American man. Gatsby was a self made man
with no background. As one of the article about Gatsby life better illustrate that "The American
dream consisted of the belief (sometimes thought of as a promise) that people of talent in this
land of opportunity and plenty could reasonably aspire to material success" ( Trask, David F, WG).
The novel illustrates the life of the people in early 1920's as a life easy money selling alcohol and

The Great Gatsby Daisy
The American Dream itself varies among each individual. The American Dream can be the
aspirations of freedom, equality, or, more commonly, wealth. These "dreams" are what are associated
with America and its gifts to Americans. At youth, adults teach that the American Dream is
reachable through hard work, sacrifice, and sound virtue. Ingrained in every child's head is the belief
that in America, anything is possible. Television, newspapers, movies, cartoons, and sensational
stories reinforce these lessons. This projection of the American Dream is why thousands come to
America. The media and government, at times, make this dream seem so attainable, so real we give
our all to our dreams. In reality though, the American Dream essentially is just...show more content...
Gatsby sacrifices himself to fulfill his dream. In the end, his dream fails completely, and his life
finds an abrupt end. Growing up poverty, he had created a character that was rich and powerful.
To make his fantasy a reality he fervently, yet illegally, became rich. To complete his faГ§ade, he
wanted Daisy Buchannan. Knowing that she had wedded another Gatsby planned meticulously
how he was going to woo her. He dedicated five years of his life to winning her over. To him she
was the American Dream. She represented money, power, and prestige. All of the qualities he
desired in life. Symbolically, Daisy is the American Dream of wealth and Gatsby represents the
ambitious Americans. This is because Gatsby when he finally wooed Daisy he became
disappointed. This disappointment due to that Daisy "tumbled short of his dreams... because of the
colossal vitality of his illusion." Correlating that Americans' vision of wealth lacks the sparkle and
splendor of what is expected. To add bitterness to the disappointment, Gatsby does not get Daisy in
the end. Instead, for his zealous struggles he is compensated with a bullet. The lesson of the story
being that wealth lacks the splendor and glamour imagined. Although Gatsby's fate was the most
extreme of cases, being wealthy and championing wealth has a cost. Sometimes this cost results in
the destruction or relinquishing of self or the spirit of

The American Dream can mean different things depending on who is asked. Some will answer it
is the freedom of religion, class or race, others will claim it is about the ability to choose where
they want to work, what they want to wear, or what's for breakfast the next day. For Jay Gatsby
and many others, the American Dream is about gaining wealth and material possessions in an
attempt to find happiness. Through his novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald shows how the
American Dream is only the concept of perfection, something that can never be acquired, but
always can be reached for. Daisy Buchanon was always mesmerized by wealth. Her dream is to have
a luxurious lifestyle filled splendor. Before the events of the...show more content...
Even though she is married to Tom, his wealth is not enough to satisfy her. When she sees the
shirts she is sad because Tom does not have the luxury of owning such a large collection of
clothing. She is blinded by wealth and always seeks more than she has. She cannot fully
appreciate what she has because her dream is to always have more, and she will only be happy
once she has the best, an unattainable goal that is there to tantalize. To Myrtle Wilson, the
American Dream is to become wealthy and high class. For her, this is impossible. She is married
to a working class man who owns an auto shop in a rundown part of New York. Myrtle is so
corrupted by money that she cheats on her hardworking, loving husband, in order to be with Tom
Buchanon's money. When describing her marriage, Myrtle said, "The only crazy I was was when
I married him. I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrowed somebody's best suit to get
married in . . . then I lay down and cried to beat the band all afternoon" (35). She was, of course,
talking about money issues. She thought her husband was wealthy, but when he had to borrow a
suit, she became depressed and she believed her life was ruined. Myrtles unhealthy fixation on
money ruined her marriage, and led to her becoming Tom's mistress. Tom can supply her with the
wealth she needs to feel happy. When given the chance, Tom will take Myrtle to parties just so she
can wear the fancy clothing that he gave her. This

The Great Gatsby
Although love should bring contentment to one's life, Fitzgerald shows that the desperation of
living with the American Dream of wealth and hope twists the relationship between Gatsby and
Daisy, creating unpromising and lost love.
Gatsby's love for Daisy began after they met at the Red Cross. After Gatsby was sent away to the
war, Daisy met Tom, a wealthy man. Daisy's biggest concern was to live the American Dream and
being with Tom was a great opportunity to live that dream. On Daisy's bridal dinner, Tom gave her
a string of pearls valued three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Later on, she was found very
drunk and holding a letter from Gatsby. "She wouldn't let go of the letter. She took it into the tub
with her and squeezed...show more content...
"There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams – not
through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her,
beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time,
decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way. No amount of fire or freshness can
challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart."
The idea of love is twisted because Daisy's selfishness shows that she loves both Gatsby and Tom
but what she truly actually loves is money. She was also deceiving because she tried to make
Gatsby believe that she was never in love with Tom and that he was the only man she wanted. She
does this as a way to keep her relationships intact. Daisy is also a big flirt towards Gatsby. She tells
him that she loves him and that she wants to be with him but she eventually proves Gatsby wrong
when she doesn't leave

The American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis
The concept of the American Dream was first found in a sermon called "city upon a hill" given by
John Winthrop a Puritan as they were on their way to Massachusetts in 1630. As time goes on, the
American Dream is used as a popular theme. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, uses the
theme of the American Dream. In the novel Fitzgerald has one of the characters represent the
American Dream, showings us what the American Dream is like during the 1920s, and how it
explores the idea of America. Fitzgerald's character Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby represents the
American dream. The American Dream is the belief that every american(caps) has an equal
opportunity to achieve prosperity through hard work. Since a small child Jay Gatsby has dreams
of becoming rich and successful, and he fulfills his dream after meeting Dan Cody. As a child,
Gatsby is a part of a poor family, but he always knows he wants to become a wealthy man a part of
the upper class. His father finds proof of this in a book he has as a child. When Gatsby's father
sees Nick at the funeral and shows him the book, "He opened it at the back cover and turned it
around for me to see. On the last fly–leaf was printed the word SCHEDULE, and the date September
12th, 1906" (Fitzgerald 181). Everyday, Gatsby makes sure to accomplish everything on his
schedule which includes working, practicing elocution, and other things that would turn him into
a more proper gentleman. Later on in his life, Gatsby learns to become more proper when he
encounters Dan Cody. When Gatsby runs into Cody he is known by the name he is born with,
James Gatz, but when he introduces himself to Cody, it is by the name Jay Gatsby. Gatsby meets
Cody and, "At any rate Cody asked him a few questions (one of them elicited the brand new name)
and found that he was quick, and extravagantly ambitious. A few days later he took him to Duluth
and bought him a blue coat, six pair of white duck trousers and a yachting cap" (106). Cody
employs Gatsby to take care of him when he becomes drunk. Cody shows him how to dress the
part and how to talk properly like a well educated man. After working with Cody, Gatsby becomes a
bootlegger and throws all of these lavishing parties to impress a girl.

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a novel about the chase for love and the American dream
in which a man named Gatsby's quest for a girl named Daisy turns out to be much like the pursuit
of the American Dream. Both are made out to be better and more attainable than they are in reality
and end up falling short of these expectations. Gatsby builds up his perception of Daisy much like
the American dream is advocated for and supported by older generations. Instead of attaining what he
thought was his ultimate conquest and realizing his ideal of true success, Gatsby ends up alone,
dishonored and dead. If the American Dream is increasingly difficult to attain because it simply isn't
possible for the younger generation in the current economic,...show more content...
In this passage, "The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o'clock a greenhouse arrived from
Gatsby's, with innumerable receptacles to contain it" (Fitzgerald 89), Gatsby's outlandish display
shows how desperate he had become in his pursuit. It's much like the way that students are now
preparing to go to school and get a job which is what has been said leads to "the American
Dream." It's not uncommon to hear someone say "Well, it will look good on my transcript" or "I
need to take this class so I can get into a good college," when, in reality that may just be attempts to
make an impression but with little true passion or purpose. Are young people over doing themselves
just to achieve something that may not even exist

Jay Gatsby's sole purpose in life is to achieve the American Dream: to become a land owner,
married to the love of his life, who live in comfort and abundance. However, he never gets
everything he wants as his love for Daisy is not as fully reciprocated as he wishes it to be. His
dream, and the one Nick pursues as well, are only dreams in the end. The culture of the time only
gives empty fulfillment with no real substance. The people, like their dreams, are only illusions of
what they want to be. Gatsby's life after the war is his search for his American Dream, which, in his
eyes, culminates in Daisy. Nick observes that Gatsby "found that he had committed himself to the
following of a grail" (149). Fitzgerald chooses to compare Gatsby's...show more content...
They both think the ideal is something that Gatsby can grasp even though it is a dream and
nothing more. Gatsby's death is the realization that nothing can ever be the ideal. He was so close
to getting what he wanted, but he never gets the full package. The world that Nick recounts is
full of idealizations. When Nick first encounters Jordan and Daisy, "They were both in white, and
their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight
around the house" (8). The women here sound like something out of a fairy tale. They come off
as fantastical but are not as good of people as they may seem. Their false presentation brings up
the lies behind everyone's presentation. Gatsby, as well, is not what he presents himself as. He is
said to be an "Oxford man" but only visited Oxford with Dan Cody. The faГ§ades are a part of
society's attempt to be something it is not and to present itself as something better than it is. The
truth is that they are all, in their own ways, like Tom and Daisy They were careless people, Tom and
Daisy–they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast
carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they
had made. (179) Nick acknowledges the lack of responsibility Tom and Daisy have for their actions.
Both "things and creatures", material objects and living things lie in the path of

The Great Gatsby In the 1920's, the American Dream was something that was desired by everyone,
but in most cases everyone's "dream" was different from one another. How I see the American
Dream, is the perfect life you want. It's the life that you see that is sometimes hard, or impossible to
achieve . In the book The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald views the American Dream as not always about
money. In the book, some of the charactersВґ American Dream was just to be happy with a
significant other. Overall, the American Dream reflects on a person's status in economics, which
can affects their emotional standpoint. Tom is a person that came from a wealthy family and he
had a great childhood. When he got older he was also a very successful man. As he was described
in The Great Gatsby "Now he was a sturdy, straw haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and
a supercilious manner. Two shining, arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and
gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward. Not even the effeminate swank of
his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body–he seemed to fill those glistening
boots until he strained the top lacing and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his
shoulder moved under his thin coat. It was a body capable of enormous leverage–a cruel body.
"(1.19) You would think since he was on the very top on the economic side and had great things in
his life, he would have had a perfect life and everything

Perception and reality do not always align. Is true love really true love, or is it a farce, a self–created
mythical re–interpretation of the thing we hold so dear? In The Great Gatsby, is Gatsby really in
love with Daisy, or his vision of her? Does she feel the same way for him, or does she truly love
him? And what does the green light at the end of Daisy's dock mean to Gatsby?
As Gatsby falls in love with Daisy, Nick is slightly intrigued by this almost improbable match.
How can a determined, wealthy man fall in love with a woman so shallow that she wishes her
daughter to "be a fool ... a beautiful little fool." (p. 17)? To everyone else, it's obvious that Daisy is
extremely...show more content...
He's got the money, the big house, parties every Friday with hundreds of people, but all of this is for
the final piece of the pie: a girl. This is especially more impactful because his money (or lack
thereof) was the reason he never was able to get with Daisy in the first place.
This brings about another face of the argument: does this apply to Daisy as well? Daisy had been
pressured to reject Jay Gatsby back during the war since he was a soldier, and short of money.
Daisy came from old money, and didn't see Gatsby as a suitable mate for her solely on his monetary
status. But now that Gatsby's 'all grown up' and rich, Daisy's suddenly in love again.
Daisy falls for the same shallowness that Gatsby does. She doesn't love Gatsby for who he is–she
does like him for his personality, partly, but it's mostly because he has the money now, and is
therefore much more qualified to be with her. Daisy really doesn't want to be with Tom, for
example, "I'd never seen a girl so mad about her husband" (p. 76) Jordan says, on how Daisy felt
after marrying Tom. She wanted Gatsby. Or rather, she wanted to have a nice husband that would be
a caring, rich gentleman. And Gatsby fills that idea up perfectly.
Daisy is seeking her own version of the American Dream, and Gatsby just happens to be in it, just as

The American Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay
"It is the elusive Gatsby, the cynical idealist, who embodies America in all of its messy glory."
Clearly as Adam Cohen asserts in his New York Times article "Jay Gatsby, Dreamer, Criminal, Jazz
Age Rogue, Is a Man for Our Times", this phenomenon is indeed true in that the American Dream is
presented in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby as an idea that has been depraved into a dream
characterized by the constant shift in ethics and fraudulence centered around materialistic visions of
opulence and wealth.
Jay Gatsby is the American psyche because he manifests the dynamic and complex nature of the
American Dream in the sense that he is simultaneously both corrupt yet morally good.
Gatsby exemplifies the ethical American Dream with...show more content...
He constructs a mansion, throws opulent parties, bathes in luxuries, and uses Nick Carraway as a
liaison all to attract Daisy's attention. Daisy represents everything that Gatsby endeavors for–the
narrator compares her to a golden girl. Trying to pinpoint what exactly made her voice so
distinctive, Gatsby and Nick conclude that her voice is "full of money–that was the inexhaustible
charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it....High in a white palace the
king's daughter" (120). The idiosyncrasy of her voice is that it draws one in with quietude and
contains promises of secret pleasures such as vast riches, luring men in with her raspy, indulgent
murmurs. Unfortunately, Gatsby is too late in realizing that money is not synonymous with
happiness, as explored in the following paragraph.
On the other hand, Gatsby epitomizes the corrupt American Dream as well. Gatsby is such a
delusional idealist that even though Daisy is married and has a child, he believes that his dream will
be realized the moment she admits that she is not, and never was, in love with her husband, Tom
Buchanan. His devout confidence in self–invention leads him to construct a completely new identity
that isolates him from others. Carraway comments on the fabricated persona when he notes,
"[Gatsby] smiled understandingly–much more than understandingly [..] some time before he
introduced himself I'd got the strong impression that he was

Themes Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby
The American dream is the ideal that every human that lives in the United States of America has an
equal opportunity to fulfill success and achieve happiness. The failure of the American dream is an
evident theme in the novel. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, uses the character Jay Gatsby to
symbolize the corruption that the pursuit of the American Dream holds. The American Dream
highlights equality and is the quintessential idea that all humans are equal. However, this idea is
perceived as an illusion. Due to the social strata, humans are accordingly placed in a hierarchy based
on status and wealth. This is clearly evident in the separation between East egg and West egg, two
different settings in the novel. The author uses these settings...show more content...
To Gatsby the light not only represents his pursuit for the American Dream but also the pursuit for
Daisy's love. The light is also used to represents society's desire to achieve the American Dream.
However, the author uses the green light to represent an unachievable goal. F. Scott Fitzgerald
writes "he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was for
him, I could have sworn he was trembling."(Fitzgerald 20). The author portrays the light as the
American Dream and uses the green light to signify how the American Dream is a false desire that
is insurmountable. Gatsby is never able to attain Daisy and this leads to his failed American Dream.
F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the American Dream as a hopeless effort that can corrupt one's life.
"Involuntarily I glanced seaward–and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and
far away, that might have been the end of a dock"(Fitzgerald 21). The green light is distinguished as
'a minute and far away' which vividly explains to the reader that getting to the the green light is
inconceivable. This portrays how the American Dream can seem so accessible and effortless but in
reality it represents an illusion. Although this may be true, characters such as Jay Gatsby as well as
humans in society continue to strive to achieve the American Dream despite of its impracticability.
The author uses an array of symbols to reflect his feelings

American Dream in The Great Gatsby Essay
"The American Dream is invariably seen to fail. Discuss"
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald is seen as one of the greatest American writers, admired by his contemparies and
by modern audiences of today. Fitzgerald was very much in tune with the early twentieth century
American culture. He is credited with capturing the 'Jazz Age', which he described as "a
generation grown up to find all Gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in man shaken". Fitzgerald
observed the culture around him with a critical eye. Despite being able to depict America like few
others could, many see Fitzgerald's writing as an indictment on its values.
Works such as The...show more content...
His 'general resolves' strive for moral integrity. Gatsby uses these idealised American values of
what people should be like, to try and escape his family's poverty and become successful. "Gatsby's
imperishable dream repeats the pioneers' dream of creating a new life for themselves." He throws off
his background, reinvents himself and become the ideal American.
"I suppose he'd had the name ready for a long time, even then. His parents were shiftless and
unsuccessful farm people – his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all. The
truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself.
He was a son of God – a phrase which if it means anything, means just that – and he must be about
His Father's business, the service of vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort
of

The idea of American Dream as presented by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Great Gatsby novel involves
rising from poverty or rags to richness and wealthy. The American Dream exemplifies that elements
such as race, gender, and ethnicity are valueless as they do not influence the ability of an individual
to rise to power and richness. This American Dream makes the assumption that concepts such as
xenophobia are non–existent in America a concept that is not true and shows vagueness of the
American Dream. In his novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the Great Gatsby to demonstrate the
overall idea of living the American dream. Gatsby leaves his small village of farmers and
manages to work his way up the ladder although some of the money he uses to climb the ladder is
associated with crime "He was a son of God and he must be about His Father's Business, the
service of a vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty" (Fitzgerald 6.7). This phrase shows that Gatsby
wasn't meant for a life similar to that of his father but rather destined for greatness. However, his
dream his short–lived and he doesn't make it to the top as Daisy who is a symbol of his wealthy
rejects her and a series of events transpire that result in his death before he could live his American
Dream alongside everyone else who was working up the ladder to live the American Dream. F.
Scott Fitzgerald proposes that the American Dream is corrupt and also a mediocrity that anyone in
America can rise from rags to riches as in the real

American Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay
Fitzgerald's America is an accurate depiction to 1920s American Dream
*HANDS OUT ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ BEFORE STARTING SEMINAR
*TURNS ON POWERPOINT TO THE TITLE
Now everyone I want you to close your eyes and imagine what you think living in the 1920s would
be like.
*GOES ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE TO THE SOCIETY IN THE 1920s
Now everyone open your eyes. What do you see here?
*POINTS TO PICTURE LIVING IN THE ACTUAL 1920S.
Now what do you see here?
*NEXT SLIDE.
*POINTS TO PICTURE LIVING IN THE AMERICAN DREAM (THE GREAT GATSBY
).
Did anyone notice anything that caused a change in society between these two pictures?
*POINTS TO SOMEONE WITH ONE OF THE ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ/QUESTION. READS
OUT THE RAPID ECONOMIC BOOMING AND GREED.
*NEXT SLIDE....show more content...
This is because the American Dream is a whole new dimension where it captivates us to endeavour
our goals. In "The Great Gatsby", the American Dream evolves around Jay Gatsby, a millionaire that
is always striving to earn more wealth and wins Daisy's heart. "You always have a green light that
burns all night at the end of the dock." Although he succeeds in winning Daisy's heart, he is not
happy with what he has, demonstrating that he did not achieve the American dream. *NEXT SLIDE.
Similarly, the American Dream in the 1920s went from being ambitious and faithful to all being
brainwashed by wealth. The American society started to aim for goals that were heavily
influenced by consumerism. In 1931, American writer and historian James Truslow Adams
describes the American Dream in his book "The American Epic", stating that "life should be better
and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement"
regardless of social class or circumstances of birth." He believes that people started to become
competitive with each other, losing their sense of identity and hope. It was about who could throw
the biggest party, who will have the most ladies or gents, and the list goes on. *NEXT SLIDE.
Although the 1920s was known for its crazy and wild parties, a time for the American society to
enjoy the luxurious life as a wealthy citizen, Fitzgerald doubts the benefits of wealth. This is shown
through Gatsby's guests at his

It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it" (George Carlin).
George Carlin, criticizes the dream of prosperity, a promise to any individual for happiness and
material success, if they try hard enough, Carlin realizes the reality of the unobtainable dream. The
Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald offers an insight to the lavish life of the 1920's, or as
he coined, The Jazz Age. The novel follows the character of Nick Carraway as he learns the tragedy
of an excessive lifestyle that is lived by Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Fitzgerald is able to
see past all the luxury and grandeur to expose the unhappiness and misery that tells the reader that
money does not bring true joy. The novel describes...show more content...
Lennie and George's version of the American Dream relies on their ability to own land. Lennie
gives the George the ability to conjure up some innocence to keep pursuing the Dream. They are
innocent, yet they can't gain any wealth or possessions, a dream that ends with shattered dreams
and lost of innocence. On the other hand, Gatsby's version of the American Dream relies solely
on the ability to relive the past with Daisy. Yet, he can't reach it, as Nick explains, "he stretched
out his arms toward the dark water...distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and
far away"(Fitzgerald Chapter 1). Gatsby tries his hardest to gain the love of Daisy. The American
Dream should be achieved by the power of want alone, yet Gatsby never comes close. He lacks the
innocence and instead he complies massive wealth in hopes of somehow finding his fulfillment. In
Angela Hickey's analysis Of Mice and Men, she states, "[Curly and Curly's wife]both have the
mental capacity to attain the dream, but lack the innocent belief that is needed to make it come
true"(3). Unlike the characters of The Great Gatsby, the characters in Of Mice and Men have no
starting wealth. George and Lennie also still retain the innocence that materialism often corrupts.
Lennie, in essence, is the innocence that kept the Dream alive for both him and George. Yet it is
hard to determine whether Daisy and

American Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay

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American Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay