The Theme Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. If you have a dream in America, you can achieve it with old fashioned hard work. Whether it’s going from rags to riches or finding love, the American Dream can offer it. But the ever-popular American dream is easily corrupted. This is greatly shown in the novel The Great Gatsby as it explores both the beauty and the corruption of the American Dream in the 1920’s. In the Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald includes many aspects in the story which show how the pursuit for the American Dream affected†¦show more content†¦These examples from the novel along with numerous others show how persons corrupted the American Dream for the desire of wealth. People were also affected by the pursuit for the American Dream as it brought people’s desire for love. An example of this is Gatsby’s American Dream as it included acquiring Daisy and her love which has taken over his entire life. The American Dream is reaching whatever your dream is through hard work and Daisy is Gatsby’s one dream. His intense desire for love with Daisy affects Gatsby by blinding him from the fact that Daisy does not deserve his admiration as she is selfish, shallow and hurtful person. Even though other characters such as Nick clearly see this, â€Å"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness† (Fitzgerald 262). Gatsby also dedicated everything in his life to acquiring Daisy’s such as hosting large, extravagant parties in hopes she would come and buying the mansion directly across the bay from her house. It was a strang e coincidence, I said. But it wasn t a coincidence at all.† Why not?† Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.† (Fitzgerald 114). Secondly, another example of how the desire for love in the novel affects the characters is how George Wilson isShow MoreRelatedThe Theme Of American Dream In The Great Gatsby859 Words   |  4 Pages American Dream The Great Gatsby is an incredible book that is filled full with literary themes and devices. In addition, Fitzgerald talks about the American Dream on his novel as it takes place in the roaring 20’s. Which is played through different characters in the book. This dream will actually come true, and turn into greatness after a long time of hardships and bumps along the road. The persona’s in the novel play this role where they all seek and want something which is affected with whatRead MoreThemes Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1503 Words   |  7 PagesThe 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 illusionRead MoreThemes Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1308 Words   |  6 Pages The American Dream can exist through almost anything, including the disbandment of love. The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald displays the concept of the American Dream through modern Love. In th e novel Fitzgerald creates a main portion of characters, Gatsby, Daisy, Nick, and Tom to act as the symbols of this American Dream. Throughout the story Fitzgerald gives his readers a taste of what the chase of an American Dream is mainly seen as, which in the end did not become successful. FitzgeraldRead MoreThe Great Gatsby : Themes Of Wealth, Dreams, Time And The Pursuit Of The American Dream873 Words   |  4 PagesThemes of Wealth, Dreams, time and the pursuit of the American dream in The Great Gatsby The American dream is a common idea in America that all individuals are equal and can achieve their dreams and ambitions are by working hard. The American dream also enshrines the idea that regardless of social class and financial status, any individual who is hardworking and persevering can achieve anything. The pursuit of this dream has led many to success and many also to failure as a lot of people go to allRead MoreBroken Dreams and Fallen Themes: the Corruption of the American Dream in the Great Gatsby1477 Words   |  6 PagesBroken Dreams and Fallen Themes In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs the use of characters, themes, and symbolism to convey the idea of the American Dream and its corruption through the aspects of wealth, family, and status. In regards to wealth and success, Fitzgerald makes clear the growing corruption of the American Dream by using Gatsby himself as a symbol for the corrupted dream throughout the text. In addition, when portraying the family the characters in Great Gatsby are used to exposeRead MoreWhat Is The Theme Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1508 Words   |  7 PagesIn â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is illusory and can never be fulfilled. He suggests this concept through Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson. When these people try to purse this unfulfilling dream, only sadness and failure is left for them to feel. In the 1920’s, everyone was following a never ending train of disappointment and failure know as the American Dream. The American Dream was the belief that through hardRead MoreScott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath1720 Words   |  7 PagesScott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath In the novels The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, the authors present similar ideas, but use different methods to portray them. Similarities in themes can be made between the two texts; these include the pursuit of the American Dream and the use and misuse of wealth. Other themes are also central to each novel, the strength in unity and the influenceRead MoreEssay about Great Gatsby862 Words   |  4 PagesScott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby / Gatsbys Desire for Daisy exploring why Gatsby had such an obsessive desire for Daisy. The writer purports that Gatsby began by pursuing an ideal, not the real woman. In fact, he could not recognize the type of person she had become since they last saw each other. Gatsby lives in a dream world and Daisy is part of that dream. As the novel progresses, however, Gatsbys feelings change. Bibliography lists Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby : The Role of NickRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Fitzgerald1296 Words   |  6 Pages The Great Gatsby Told by Nick Caraway, and written by Scott F. Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby is a classic novel that gives readers a glimpse inside the lives of the wealthy during the roaring 20s. The story follows the lives of Jay Gatsby, a man of new money, Daisy Buchanan, a married girl of old money, and Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s deceitful husband. Jay Gatsby is a man of mystery, with seemly unlimited funds, who throws ridiculous outrageous parties for no apparent reason. It’s learned that he hasRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1599 Words   |  7 Pagesevents and themes that occurred around him. One of Fitzgerald’s most popular novels is named The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby is written to reproduce the environment that Fitzgerald was living in. This semiautobiographical work uses fictitious characters to portray how people around Fitzgerald acted and what the overall theme of America was at this point in time. The years that ensued World War I were known f or mass productions of alcohol, grand parties, and greed for money. In The Great Gatsby