American Dream Essay The American dream is our ideal that this country is a place full of opportunities regardless of race, religion, and background. Back in the roaring 20s, the economic boom caused all this wealth portrayed in The Great Gatsby. Creating a false image for those who face reality, not dreams. Americans now just want enough money to feed their families and pay their rent. Individuals who struggle with systemic racism, xenophobia, and inequality do not have the same opportunities and easy access as others do. The American dream has significantly changed since the time Great Gatsby was published. Fitzgerald´s vision of the American dream is different from the ideals of today. Back then, people were striving for wealth and had …show more content…
In The Great Gatsby, we see Tom and Daisy, a part of the ¨old money¨ crowd. Wulick says, ¨They do not need the American dream, since they were born with America already at their feet¨. Tom and Daisy did not have the traditional rags-to-riches story as Gatsby and the Wilsons do. They are seen as just money, careless, reckless, and bored. Wulick shows, ¨..unlike Gatsby and the Wilsons, who actively dream and hope for a better life, Daisy and Tom are described as bored and careless, and end up instigating a large amount of tragedy through their recklessness.¨ You can see this when Daisy runs away with Tom after the incident with Myrtle. As well as when we hear how Tom helps bring down the Wilsons. They have the privilege and money, they do not face the consequences of their careless actions. But at the same time, any person can rise to the top, regardless of what they have inherited from their …show more content…
With this, he does touch on this common hardship. We see this gap when Fitzgerald describes the rich as having a colorful and flamboyant style, being careless and wasteful. For the poor, he describes it as a place of ashes and a desolate place. We see the dramatic difference between the rich and the poor. While the rich are having parties and being reckless, the poor are working hard to feed their families. When Myrtle and George are trying to better their lives it does not seem to go anywhere. Wulick explains ¨Both are disempowered due to the lack of money at their disposal¨. There is a pattern between George, Myrtle, and Gatsby. Since they were not born into money, they will always struggle. Though, the book killed them off before they were able to stabilize their financial state. Even though you had to work for your money, it does not mean you will not eventually be