American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald defines the “American Dream” in the novel The Great Gatsby as living in a high manor with a more than enough money needed. In the novel he explains the difference between the West Egg and the East Eg he describes the West Egg as “less fashionable of the two” and East Egg as “white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water.” The American Dream would to be living in the East Egg, the meaning behind each side was if you were to live in the West Egg your fortunes were recently made but in the East Egg you were born into fortune. In society it was more acceptable to be living in the East Egg because you were considered “old money” being more respectable. But if you lived in West Egg you were considered “new money” and you were irresponsible and not classy.

Gatsby wants more in life and believes he can do it if he tries hard enough , which is a part of the American Dream. However, Gatsby's dream goes downhill when he fails to win Daisy when she chooses Tom instead of him. He also fails to have the higher class accept him when Tom starts pointing out the fact that they are not the same and will never be. Which is ironic because all of the money Gatsby has can’t do anything or help him when he gets shot by Mr.Wilson. After not accomplishing any of his goals Gatsby realizes his failed American Dream and without his Dream there’s nothing else for him to keep fighting