Essay On The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

The American dream is the belief that every US citizen has the opportunity to achieve success no matter his or her social class; however, the American dream in many ways has become a farce. Hopeful American children and starry-eyed foreigners believed that the freedom that America claims to have, will in turn generate prosperity. This prosperity will in turn bring happiness. Unfortunately this expectation of joy will never be fulfilled, and all those who have risked everything to obtain this dream will feel as though they have been cheated out of happiness. However, in reality these dreamers have been chasing something that is unattainable. The dream that is so highly regarded is nothing but a trap. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great

Gatsby shamelessly flaunts his possessions that he worked tirelessly and illegally to obtain. Moreover, Gatsby has a very warped sense of values because he is so determined to better himself. Growing up he observed his parents’ way of life and was unimpressed. This drove him to believe that he was better than his family, so “ he [takes it upon himself to] change [his name] at the age of seventeen” (98). Prior to Gatsby’s name change, he composes a list of “general resolves” that he lived by (173). Even at a young age Gatsby was determined to live a fruitful life. He did not wish to be shiftless and unsuccessful, which is his reason for changing his name. He effectively disassociates himself from the people who raised him, which the majority of society would view as immoral. Nonetheless, Gatsby does this in order to fulfill his desire for the American Dream. In short, Gatsby symbolically disowns his parents by changing his name and in return he exchanges his common decency to fulfill his complete and total enthrallment with the American dream and his dreams for