Examples Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby

Corruption of the American Dream in Gatsby

In the Great Gatsby Fitzgerald shows that chasing hollow dreams leads to misery through his characters, although some are wealthy, they are not truly content. The American dream not only causes corruption but also destruction. Many of the characters such as Myrtle, Gatsby and Daisy have all been corrupted and destroyed by the American Dream as well as their own. Jay Gatsby, Who the book is centered upon is someone who wants to repeat the past by regaining Daisy’s love he wants to achieve that dream with his loads of money which is meant to attract Daisy, This plan ultimately fails much like other characters such as Myrtle who wants to move out of the nothingness of the Valley of Ashes into fortune

These characters are all corrupted by the American Dream Gatsby is the central figure in the book who is corrupted by his vision of the American Dream as Fitzgerald shows that it is very much possible to have everything, much like Gatsby yet still want more.Surprisingly he devotes most of his adult life trying to recapture it and, finally, dies in its pursuit. About 5 years prior to the setting of the Book, Gatsby and Daisy had a love affair, although Gatsby knew could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to gather his wealth to reach her economic and social standards. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to Daisy,Which shows his relentless drive to pursue his Dreams "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay (83),".everybody has the opportunity to get what they want. According to the

The desire for a luxurious life is what lures Myrtle into having an affair with Tom. Or Gatsby’s vision of a Happy life with his true love Daisy. The Characters decisions harms their future without them attempting to do so which in turn destroys their vision for the American Dream. When Myrtle first got married to George Wilson, she thought that she was crazy about him and thought that they were happy being together. Myrtle says, “The only crazy, I was was when I married him. I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in, and never told me about it, and the man came after it one say when he was out…” (Fitzgerald, 37), As Myrtle represents the society of the Roaring Twenties as she is very materialistic much like the rest of the society who appears to think that money will always give them happiness. Society at this time seems to be so corrupted by the American Dream that they seem to not be able to appreciate what they have much like Myrtle who likes Tom because he can provide her with materialistic goods which make her happy. This shows how the Society is blinded by the American Dream they want for material goods that they fiend for expensive cars and