The concept of the American Dream is widely known among Americans and has undoubtedly shaped society. However, was this for better or for worse? Although the American Dream ideology started harmless, it grew into an unhealthy mindset of judgment. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby critiques the damage the American Dream can cause. The American Dream creates a trap where people focus on how others perceive them rather than how they perceive their success. The Great Gatsby exemplifies this trap as Jay Gatsby builds himself up to win over Daisy. While Gatsby manages to build himself up, he fails in the end because his values rely too heavily on others' opinions, perfectly embodying the values of the American Dream.
On the surface, Jay
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His attachment to Daisy and the desire to impress her causes this failure. Daisy tells him of her disloyalty: "Oh, you want too much!" she cried to Gatsby. "I love you now — isn't that enough? I can't help what's past." She began to sob helplessly. "I did love him once — but I loved you too." (100). Gatsby dedicates years to becoming a wealthy man so Daisy can return to him. He would have succeeded if not for his greed for her to tell Tom Buchanan that she never loved him. By making Daisy his sole focus, he traps himself because his dream depends entirely on Daisy's feelings, which Gatsby believes he can control. Winning over others will not make one as successful as finding the motivation to be better for oneself. The passage goes on to say, "Out of the corner of his eye, Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees — he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the in- comparable milk of wonder." (85). This idea of the ladder of success presents itself similarly to the American Dream and more accurately represents life. If someone fails to let go of this and prevents them from improving, they will not improve. Consuming the "milk of wonder" is just becoming the best version of yourself for