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Examples Of Flaws In The Great Gatsby

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Will Hartman Mr. Mark Bratkowski Literature and Composition 2 24 March 2023 The Flaws of the American Dream The American Dream is the belief that anyone can do anything no matter who they are or where they come from. Greed, wealth, and fame are all ideas that stem from Mr. Gatsby's American dream. The novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, his pursuit of love for Daisy, and his incredible riches. The author has shown the readers a side to the American dream that would seem to be almost more of an American nightmare. Fitzgerald demonstrates the flaws of the American dream through his characters, symbols, and events. Readers are introduced to the Buchanans first in Chapter one of the novel. These are the first …show more content…

Tom has an affair with Myrtle Wilson, who also happens to be engaged to George Wilson at the same time. Daisy forgives Tom for cheating on her because she trusts that he truly loves her. “Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time." (Fitzgerald 251-252) However, readers know that Tom did not truly love her, he is only married to her because of her pure beauty and qualities, “in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl” with an “inexhaustible charm” and a voice “full of money” (Fitzgerald 76). If Tom did actually love Daisy, then he would not cheat on her with Myrtle time and time again. As for Daisy, she's not at all in love with Tom at all. Daisy only chooses to stay with Tom for the life he can provide for her. “They had spent a year in France for no …show more content…

In Chapter 3 Jay Gatsby throws an enormous party. To anyone who steps foot on Gatsby's property they would immediately believe that Gatsby is living the American dream. “The house on my right was a colossal affair by any standard–it was a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby’s mansion.” (Fitzgerald 6) If the American dream is all about fame and fortune, then this is correct. However Gatsby's empty mansion after he is killed would be a representative of the failed American dream. The emptiness of the mansion is a testimony to all the people who came and simply took advantage of Gatsby's wealth and fortune. All of a sudden what was once a place where everyone came to gather to celebrate in awe of Gatsby's wealth, was a place people went to grieve Gatsby's death. The mansion itself was just the powerhouse of Gatsby's wealth and it fell with Gatsby's failed American dream. On another hand, Gatsby's entire lifestyle was all just a chase to get Daisy back. He was trying to make himself look better by using earthly ideas and items to win her over. This chase symbolizes the failure of fulfillment that the American dream supposedly grants those who achieve

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1248 Words | 5 Pages

For the reader of the book, it is clear to see that Tom never truly loved Myrtle. Due to the fact that in chapter two Tom punches Myrtle for saying “Daisy”, and ultimately breaking her nose. Another thing that makes it obvious that Tom never loved Myrtle and was just fooling her, is that he has a daughter, and even though he would sleep around, Tom would never leave his family to fend for themselves. This is not only because deep down Tom truly does love Daisy and their child. It is also because of Tom’s beliefs and the way Tom was raised.

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694 Words | 3 Pages

Tom is so engrossed in his world and affair with Myrtle that he does not realize that he can also be cheated on. After finding out that Daisy has been seeing Gatsby, he gets defensive and possessive over his wife even though he has been seeing another woman, he gets uptight and states “...I love Daisy too. Once in awhile i go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back” (131), even as he says this Tom never admits to Daisy that he is having one of those “sprees” during that same time. He says that he will always come back to her but it does not mean that he will stop having affairs with other women in the future. Tom becomes depraved because of his greed and insecurities leading him to lose two people

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1865 Words | 8 Pages

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Examples Of Corruption In The Great Gatsby

1033 Words | 5 Pages

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983 Words | 4 Pages

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717 Words | 3 Pages

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590 Words | 3 Pages

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1009 Words | 5 Pages

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1167 Words | 5 Pages

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