In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s moral ambiguity causes him to be recognized as a character whom is neither purely evil or purely good. Gatsby’s path to wealth and high social status, in pursuit of his love for Daisy, through his diligent work ethic embodies the American Dream and can be seen as just and virtuous. On the contrary, his devious and illegal activity he commits casts an immoral shade upon Gatsby’s character. Gatsby’s lack of moral clarity in his journey for wealth disturbs the purity of the American Dream. This contributes to the idea that the American Dream is deceiving, in that it is not possible to achieve one’s goal without foregoing one’s morals.
With the ideals of the American Dream as the foundation for his morals, Gatsby champions the idea that persistence and perseverance will allow himself to achieve his goals of wealth and the love of Daisy. Jay Gatsby’s quest for
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For one, his entire journey in becoming a rich and successful man is built on the foundation of a lie. When James Gatz changed his name into Jay Gatsby, to start his quest for wealth, it resembles how Gatsby would then on lie about his past to acheive his goal. Gatsby would continue participating in devious action to acheive wealth through his illegal activity in bootlegging during the Prohibition era, as well as his criminal activities with Meyer Wolfsheim. Gatsby struggles to be seen as a character that is purely good because of his casual friendship with a prominent criminal in Wolfsheim. While at a diner with Nick, Gatsby “coolly” mentions “He's the man who fixed the World's Series back in 1919” (Fitzgerald 94). Gatsby’s casual view on illegal activity causes his morality in his quest for wealth to be questioned, causing his journey to be seen less about the American Dream and more so about how exploitation of the laws can allow one to