Death Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

In the Roaring Twenties, the infamous American Dream could have been achieved if one gained success through their hard work. F. Scott Fitzgerald conveys the death of the American Dream through his novel The Great Gatsby, published in 1925. Jay Gatsby, who is the main character in the novel, attempts to achieve the status of the upper class after his humiliating, fortuneless childhood. Throughout the novel, the American Dream proves that it is unachievable for the lower class, while those who have already succeeded in it are unsatisfied. Overall, it is defunct. Fitzgerald comments on the death of the American dream through his characters Daisy who represents the unreachable dream, Gatsby, who achieves the dream to a degree, and Myrtle who is

She is symbolic for the alluring nature of the American Dream, and she is often described as having a siren’s voice. Gatsby’s main goal in life was to win over Daisy, but once he had her she vanished, “[back] into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby-nothing” (Fitzgerald 149). When Gatsby wins over Daisy, in the end she leaves him for wealth and practicality, while he is left with nothing. The juxtaposition between Gatsby and Daisy describes her as flourishing, while leaving Gatsby utterly empty. When Gatsby thought he had finally achieved the American Dream, he was deprived of the only affection in his life as Daisy ended up staying with her husband, Tom. Daisy then recoiled back into her wealth and success. The American Dream can be deceiving at times and with Daisy and all of her “wealth [that] imprisons and preserves, Daisy [is] safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor” (150). As she is above the poor, she is practically untouchable by the headache of having to work to get what she

Ultimately, he is unable to win Daisy’s allegiance and Tom succeeds in violently extinguishing Gatsby’s life. When Gatsby introduces Nick to his business partner, Wolfsheim, Nick inspects his cuff buttons and “they were composed of [odd] pieces of ivory”, then Wolfsheim noticed Nick looking at them and, “flipped his sleeves under his coat” (72). Gatsby involves himself in an illegal and unethical business, that is shown through the human molars that are on Wolfsheim’s cuff buttons. This symbolizes that Wolfsheim and Gatsby will take extreme measures to achieve the goals that they wish to attain. Even after Gatsby’s achievement of the high class and immense fortune, his guiltless attitude towards his illegal past is shown through his goals. When Gatsby receives his money through a cursory business, it does not matter to him because all he wanted was to attain the American Dream and get the girl, Daisy. In the end of the novel, “Gatsby believes in the green light” (180). The green light represents his hopes of completing his dream through Daisy. Prior to achieving his desire, the American Dream to Gatsby is very significant, and it is all he really thinks about. Gatsby lives his life to attain that goal, and he succeeds. The green light