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Examples Of Materialism In The Great Gatsby

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When our country was founded, our forefathers envisioned a land ripe with opportunity. They believed that everyone had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They saw an America filled with hope and believed that with freedom and independence citizens could pursue their own dreams and achieve success if they were willing to work towards it. The ideas that encompass “The American Dream” are ever-changing, evolving, and they differ from person to person. One of the underlying themes of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is the idea of an “American Dream.” The novel, set in the 1920’s after WWI, reflects society’s shift towards a more materialistic lifestyle, and the character’s pursuits mirror these changes. To most of the characters in The Great Gatsby, “The American Dream” primarily embodies personal wealth and social status. Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby’s love interest, exemplifies the more materialistic version of “The American Dream” common with her “old money” social class. When Gatsby and Daisy are younger, they fall in love. Gatsby, however, is not from Daisy’s social class, and he ends up being deployed to Europe for WWI. Instead of waiting for Gatsby to return, Daisy …show more content…

Nick comes to New York seeking a more exciting lifestyle, and to gain financial success as a bondsman. Yet, as Nick’s character evolves, so does his dream. As Nick gets to know the wealthy socialites of East and West Egg, he realizes that they are not the type of people that he aspires to be like. Nick’s values and morals are extremely important to him unlike many of the other characters in The Great Gatsby. Nick does not want to become shallow and vapid like his acquaintances, therefore he adapts his dreams to seek a fuller life with authentic friends. Unlike the others, Nick Carraway realizes that money does not correlate with

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