Happiness Of The American Dream In 'The Great Gatsby'

Aaron Teng

Marina Litushko

English 10

19 May 2023

Lost Happiness of the American Dream

As an exaggerated, yet realistic depiction of the Roaring twenties in America, the Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald highlights the flaws in people and society. While Gatsby, the main character, is the one of the most obvious followers of the American Dream, nearly everyone in the book chases after some form of that dream, with the same unrealistic expectations of perfect relationships and reputations. The classic American Dream includes a family of four, a dog, a nice house with white picket fence, and other imaginative things that paint a fantastical image of happiness in life. The dream is utopic at first glance, but Fitzgerald uses characterization

Unlike Gatsby, Daisy essentially succeeds in achieving the “dream life”. The method she used to achieve success is by creating connections with people that will help her climb, such as Tom, and abandoning those that drag her down, like Gatsby. In Daisy and Gatsby’s past, Fitzgerald highlighted their economical difference with the visual contrast between Daisy’s elaborate mansion and Gatsby’s camping tent. Due to this difference, Daisy saw no potential in Gatsby, and left him for more wealthy men that can help her achieve her American Dream. This emotionless determination for success causes Daisy to step over countless others in her journey. In the case of Gatsby, they might’ve had potential in the past, but because of the expectations instilled from the American Dream, Daisy was pressured to marry Tom. So, hypocritically, the American Dream not only forced Gatsby to only pursue Daisy, but it was also the reason he could never succeed in the end. Just like Gatsby, once Daisy had chosen Tom, she could not turn back. At this point, no matter what Gatsby did, his dream was already impossible, as Daisy had moved on. Fitzgerald clearly displays how the American Dream is hypocritical and ruins lives. It cannot possibly be a perfect recipe for happiness if it dooms the lives of others. In the end, neither party can ever achieve true happiness. Daisy herself expresses this idea at the beginning of the book, complaining about being “sophisticated” and knowing too much. Fitzgerald uses contrast between the visual imagery of her giant mansion with the lofty room that seems dreamlike, and her aural language that expresses regret and imprisonment, to express he dissatisfication. Yes, she “succeeded”