The book The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the most well known and loved books in America. Jay Gatsby, the main character is a wealthy man who highly believes in his allusions and in himself. Gatsby comes to represent America. .The Great Gatsby is a perfect portrayal of 21st Century America and the readers can learn about the American Experience, the self image, and the illusions that so many try to live up to. First, The Great Gatsby is a portrait of 21st century America. One example is in his character. Jay Gatsby is an optimist and a dreamer. America can be described the same way. Jay Gatsby strongly believed in his dreams and what he wanted the most, Daisy. Jay believed that with all the power and wealth he had that he could get anything he wanted. This made him really optimistic. America strongly believes in the “American Dream”. America believes that with money and power you can obtain anything you want. Many try to reach this,but there is reality about these illusions, and it shows it in book as well. …show more content…
One example is in the quote where Nick says, “They weren’t happy, and neither of them had touched to chicken or ale- and yet they weren’t unhappy either. There was an unmistakable air of natural intimacy about the picture and anybody would have said that they were conspiring together”(155). Nick was a middle class man who didn’t live like them and he honestly saw that they were not happy even though they had a lot of wealth and were living the “American Dream”. The reader can learn that the illusion of “having a lot of money will bring you all the happiness” ,is not true. Even though it may look like it, it may not be