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Essay Comparing The Great Gatsby And Water For Elephants

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#1 New York Times Bestseller Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and America’s greatest novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald share many similarities and connections. Both novels are set in the 1920’s. The Great Gatsby set in the roaring 1920’s and Water For Elephants in the first stage of the Great Depression, when the stock market crashed in 1929. Both novels also include fancy parties, in The Great Gatsby, it was in his beautiful mansion and the best house in West Egg and in Water For Elephants it was in car 48, which was the best car from the entire circus crew. The two novels, The Great Gatsby and Water For Elephants share connections and similar ideas with the American Dream and also similarities with the characters.

One of the many connections these two novels share is the idea of the American Dream. The American Dream is the idea that there is equal opportunity for every American to achieve their goals and dreams. For example, Daisy from The Great Gatsby already lives her American Dream with her rich lifestyle and her rich husband, with lots of money. Marlena from Water For Elephants tries to live the American Dream. Marlena’s …show more content…

Tom from The Great Gatsby and August from Water for Elephants are very similar in character and share many of the same personality traits. They are both abusive husbands and people in general. This is evident when Tom punches Myrtle Wilson, the woman is he having an affair with, in the face for making a smart remark. Tom is very self centered and wants to get his way. This behavior is also seen in August, from Water for Elephants, when August doesn't get his way, he has an episode and make sure everyone else around him is angry too. August demonstrates his abusive behavior when he fights Jacob because on some false accusations that he is sleeping with Marlena and also when he hits Marlena in the face and rips her pearl necklace from her neck and bruising

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The American Dream is similar to the ideals of The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, because today we do not have steady employment, it is unrealistic to those with different circumstances, the dream can be reachable through hard work, and the dream varies for people. People still struggle to find opportunities of employment and

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