Examples Of Failure In The Great Gatsby

The “American Dream” has been around since America was founded, the idea of a “self-made” man. According to Dictionary.com, the American Dream is “the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American.” The “American Dream” can never be attained by those chasing it, and it is indeed corrupt. The dream is never fulfilled. In Fitzgerald's novel, multiple characters throughout the story are left feeling embittered. Although anyone can achieve wealth through hard work, it hardly happens in real life. By exposing the flaws and imperfections of multiple characters, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) illustrates the “American Dream” as corrupt and embittered. Some people might believe that character

Jay Gatsby is from a small town and poor town in North Dakota (Fitzgerald 173). As a child, he was “... bound to get ahead (Fitzgerald 173).” Mr. Gatsby observed a strict regimen driven by a rigorous schedule that pushed him each and every day (Fitzgerald 173). Gatsby never reaches his “Dream”, which is Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby’s ultimate goal, his most desirable object is exactly that, Daisy (Donaldson 197). He desires a relationship with Daisy above all else. From Gatsby’s perspective, Daisy appears to be a sweetheart and a dream girl, his ultimate desire. As Barrett puts it, Daisy is a symbol of wealth, status, and the “good life” (12). Gatsby wants to see Daisy very badly but tries to act as if he does not. Though he tries to be nonchalant, he puts forth a great effort to ensure that everything is as perfect as it can possibly be when he does see her (Fitzgerald 82-84). Gatsby’s love for Daisy made him do things the normal person would not do, just to see this girl (Fitzgerald

Gatsby was a farmboy from North Dakota, who never should have made it to such a high social and economic class status as he did. He went to Oxford, but only for five months after his military program (Fitzgerald 129). Gatsby began to reinvent himself when he partnered with Dan Cody. His parents were poor and he was embarrassed to be from such a poor background, so he changed his life’s story after Mr.Cody gave him his name (Fitzgerald 98). His true name is James Gatz, the same guy from North Dakota (Fitzgerald 99). Previously known as James Gatz, he was hooked on Dan Cody. Gatsby did not even drink because he did not want to throw money aside like Dan Cody (Fitzgerald 100). Nothing is truly real about Gatsby, as he is a fake who lacks substance. He changed his name and the the facts about his past, and has acts very mysterious about all the rumors circulating about him (Fitzgerald 44). Gatsby’s American Dream is not so fully delineated with the re-encounter of Daisy (Miller 3). Gatsby reinvents himself by rejecting his past (Barrett 6). The extent Gatsby goes to erase his past and be this new man is something most people are not willing to do. Lewis says it perfectly, Gatsby and what he stands for reach proportion of the “Mythic Profundity” (Lewis 2). Gatsby is a mockup of what he wants to be, a person invented by himself and Dan Cody. The benefit of Gastby being fake is that is shows Nick that the