Corruption Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Everyone has a dream that they wish to pursue and achieve. For some, it is wealth, and for others, it is a life full of happiness. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald tells the story, through the character Nick Carraway, of a man whose end goal was to have the American Dream. While many believe the American Dream is to reach a high status and wealth, for Gatsby, his American Dream was to be with his true love, Daisy Buchanan. In the beginning, Gatsby and Daisy were lovers, but Gatsby went off to war. Soon later, Daisy married a man, Tom Buchanan, who could give her solid status and wealth. Gatsby spent his whole life attempting to reunite with Daisy and build up his status and became a self-made millionaire. He threw elaborate parties in the hopes

Fitzgerald demonstrates how dreams can be corrupted when one only focuses on a materialistic lifestyle. Fitzgerald includes many characters that highlight the “demoralizing depiction of high society, as well as its dwindling to materialism, [...] otherwise known as the American dream” (Abu-Snoubar, et al. 191). Many of the characters achieve the American Dream, which is wealth because they are driven by the desire for money and not following their true passions. This depicts how the American Dream was only materialistic and left the characters unhappy and wanting more. Another example of this is Daisy who when looking through Gatsby's house sobs at the sight of his shirts because “It makes [her] sad because [she’s] never seen such—such beautiful shirts before” (Fitzgerald 99). This reflects how Daisy was obsessed with materialistic items and was beginning to realize that she could have waited for Gatsby because he became just as wealthy as Tom. Daisy was only ever worried about money and married Tom because he could provide her with a materialistic lifestyle. This is further exemplified when Gatsby describes Daisy’s voice as “full of money” (Fitzgerald 128). As Gatsby describes her voice as full of money, it reveals that money is the only thing Daisy truly values. Gatsby recognizes Daisy’s obsession with wealth and high status and knows that if he could attain wealth, he could win Daisy over. In the end, Daisy decided to stay with Tom who, together, “were careless people,” who “[...]smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness [....] and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 191). The Buchanans have become corrupt due to money and wealth and lack of morals. They have led materialistic lifestyles that have only resulted in