The American Dream is deeply valued by American society. Per-contra, it is also deeply questioned. The American Dream is “the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone” (Investopedia.com). Although Americans value it and hold onto it, it may not even be achievable. If the American Dream is, in fact, unachievable, then what prevents it from being accomplished? It is a large theme in the book The Great Gatsby. In the book, F. Scott Fitzgerald shows that the American Dream is unattainable through one of the main character’s, Gatsby’s, difficult life and ultimate demise to reveal the true cause of the American Dreams impracticality; rigid social structure. …show more content…
But, he wasn’t always Jay Gatsby. He started out as young James Gatz, the son of “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people” (98). So, did James Gatz achieve the American Dream? Or did Jay Gatsby? One could say that James Gatz did, but, technically, James Gatz didn’t exist to achieve it. He had to become Jay Gatsby. He knew that a poor farm boy would never be able to achieve such great heights; however he does believe that the mythical oxford educated James Gatsby can. James Gatz was so withheld by his low social class as a North Dakota farmer that he had to change who he was to even be accepted by the upper class and try to achieve the American