What is considered the American Dream? The American dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of race, gender, or nationality, can be successful in America if they just work hard enough. With numerous changes occurring in the economy, people struggle to live their daily lives. Everyone is allowed to have The American Dream, but achieving it is a different story. The issue is people are still holding on to the American Dream. Fitzgerald's interpretation of the American Dream in the fictional novel The Great Gatsby is different from today's ideals due to people struggling financially, lack of acceptance, people losing hope, gender inequalities, and the cost of living increasing. People worry about their financial state because of their yearly …show more content…
For example (Source A) explains that Gatsby was able to gain his riches and wealth. Although he was able to achieve his riches it’s not that simple in today’s economy. This means that Fitzgerald’s idea of the American Dream does not correlate with the reality of today’s financial struggles. Various individuals face difficulties living in America to keep up with the financial requirements. Statistics show in (Source E) that more than 59% of people think The American Dream is unattainable. This means that people have a realistic view of living in this country. Not only does it reflect false hope, but it gives the audience a better understanding of how little hope people have in the American Dream. Others might argue that the American Dream is attainable, but according to (Source E) people are not so sure about that. A great deal of adults are not satisfied with their lives due to their low …show more content…
For instance, in (Source A) Dr. Anna Wulick claims that Gatsby’s ultimate goal was being with Daisy. Meanwhile, Daisy was forced into marriage with Tom. This indicates that women back then were treated as mere objects and were only there to forge men’s satisfactions, completely disregarding their dreams. In The Great Gatsby Daisy’s only desire was to live a life of luxury. She had no desire in raising her children, instead, she was viewed as a selfish woman who only saw her children as accessories. This means that women back then were just focused on their social status and riches rather than trying to raise a family. Various women valued money more than anything and would do anything to achieve it. Although Daisy had selfish desires, in today’s society women work for themselves, not needing a man to help them be financially
And I hope she’ll be a fool, that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful fool" (Fitzgerald 22). Daisy is basically explaining that there are limited possibilities for women. The baby has to be beautiful in order to be successful and have happiness. Back in the 1920’s, women only married solely for the money, not necessarily for the love. Daisy thought she married Tom out of love, but realized it was all about the wealth.
(Source A) In other words, Daisy as a character reveals that being born into a life of perfect status is not something that people should dream about. Being born into a life of perfect status and money makes you susceptible to living a life of boredom when there is nothing to strive for. Instead, you are born with your life finished. This matters due to its contrast with Myrtle, another
Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Gatsby is seen to go through what seems to be a life in a matter of months. He makes a new friend and sparks a relationship he thought he had lost. To any person looking in and just seeing the action that Gatsby takes and the way he looks he seems to be living the “American Dream” though this is far from the truth. Though Gatsby is portrayed as living the American Dream he still has much inner turmoil making him the embodiment of the American Dream rather than the idea of it. To many people, the American Dream has everything you want with life, but all people that are seen to live the “American Dream” have much more going on in their lives and inside of them than meets the eye.
She was a very materialistic woman who pined for Gatsby due to his immense wealth he gained over the course of time after Daisy and Gatsby first met. Wealth and the idea of having that younger feeling and the idea of the bliss of her days of being the young, beautiful fool again. Once she realized Tom had more to offer with his older money, and after the novelty of Gatsby worn off after he tried to sustain a commitment with her, she was no longer invested in him. “Daisy’s self-avowed “sophistication” (Fitzgerald 24), or rather remarkable indifference to most things, including her own daughter, emphasizes another aspect of the American Dream. In the sense that it is not merely the accumulation of material possessions — a house, a car, polo-ponies, and expensive clothing — but also the spiritual fulfilment and happiness of the individual, her impassiveness, and nonchalant demeanor inhibits her from achieving even this fundamental part of the American Dream.”
Independence in a woman can be the most admirable quality, especially in a marriage. In the early 1920s, women in The Great Gatsby were given respect based on who they married. Women had a better chance to survive and establish an empire behind her husband rather than doing that alone. The downside of marrying the rich means that they are willing to give up their happiness for financial stability. In The Great Gatsby, Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle experience different lifestyles based on their relationships with men and their inability to value love over money and fame which solidifies the idea that the American Dream is not fully attainable.
Women are constantly objectified in society, whether it is in the present or past. Daisy Buchanan is perpetually invalidated in Fitzgerald’s novel, “The Great Gatsby”. In the novel, she represents everything that a woman wished she could be during this era as she is beautiful, wealthy, and supposedly happy. Although Daisy is not happy with her current situation, she stays in a selfish attempt to maintain her high social status. Fitzgerald writes Daisy in his novel in this way to display how women are constantly portrayed negatively and rely on men to survive.
Individuals who struggle with systemic racism, xenophobia, and inequality do not have the same opportunities and easy access as others do. The American dream has significantly changed since the time Great Gatsby was published. Fitzgerald´s vision of the American dream is different from the ideals of today. Back then, people were striving for wealth and had
The American Dream is an unrealistic vision. It defines success as the measure of laborious work in a lifetime. The American Dream can deceiving, it isn't realistic in the end. Everybody wants to live the American Dream, because of how astonishing society makes it sound. People want to live this elegant lifestyle; of working hard to get a great amount of money.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the American dream is the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative according to Webster’s Dictionary. Although this is true, the goals of achieving the American Dream is different to individuals. For example, having a college education, a successful marriage, giving your kids a better life than yours, becoming famous, speaking english, or being an American citizen are all part of some people’s opinion on accomplishing the American dream. My American dream consists of having a roof over my head, a successful job, enough to eat, a happy wife and children, and a healthy life. I want a spacious house in a safe
Generation after generation, individuals and families come to America in the hope of a successful and content life. Everyone has goals that they wish to accomplish, and their ideas fall under the American dream. The American dream is achieved by working hard to accomplish the ideal future someone wishes to have. There is no definite definition of the American dream because everyone has different opinions and beliefs on what they believe to be their ideal future. This dream many people have presents a pretty view of American society that ignores problems such as racism, discrimination, and income inequality.
Daisy’s innocent image has transformed in our eyes, and we now see the woman absorbed with money, reputation, and her own desires. When given a chance at true love, a chance to be truly heard and cared for, she chooses wealth and social status as her true form of happiness, eventually leading to her own misery. Living in
Even Gatsby who loved Daisy elevated her status because of her wealth. This tells the reader that Gatsby viewed Daisy as another status symbol he wanted to acquire. This is evidence, again, that the male American Dream was based around wealth and objects, including women. Throughout the novel, the reader is lead to believe that Gatsby is one of the only men who respects women. His love for Daisy is demonstrated, yet we begin to see that he didn’t just love Daisy for Daisy, but for the status she brings him.
Many women started to take the role of men in the workplace. Women who worked longed to be independent. Daisy shows us that she is upper class and that she has old money. She desires to be shown love and affection throughout the whole book. She gets with Gatsby because he gives her all of that.
Women were expected to be submissive, obedient, and focused on their roles as wives and mothers. However, Daisy is a free spirit who craves adventure and excitement. Society's expectations influence Daisy's choices and options. She is unable to fulfill her desires because of the limitations placed on her by gender roles. She is expected to marry for status and wealth, not for love or personal fulfillment.
Everyone has their own interpretation of the “American Dream”but no one can truly defend it unless they have experienced, Base on the three short stories “America and I” by Anzia Yezierska, “Among the poor girls” by Wirt Sikes, and “Eyewitness at the triangle” by William Shepard. But what is an “American Dream” it could mean anything, the general definition is an image of a dream for U.S citizen should have an equal right or opportunities to achieve great success and prosperity. It just doesn 't exist for everyone because there are still homeless people on the street or people who are working very hard get very little pay so it 's just a shadow.