How Did The Great Gatsby Achieve Success

The American Dream

The American dream is an opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination and initiative, no matter who someone is or what their background may be. Some are born into wealth; where there are riches available from the start. Others have to achieve and work a bit harder for the success, but the American dream is available to everyone. The Great Gatsby was set in the 1920’s. In this time in history, people were generally materialistic and focused on getting the things they wanted instead of focusing on the things they already had. All the Characters in The Great Gatsby believed that one day they would find their key to happiness and they believed it was through materials. The American dream is the exhilarating idea that no matter where someone comes from, they can achieve success.

Jay Gatsby, in the novel, The Great Gatsby, firmly believes that people should “Practice elocution, poise and how to attain it,” (173). Gatsby would practice manners, how to speak and how to walk like a wealthy man. He went from being poor to having money, which is what he thought success was and he thought he needed to change who he was and act a certain way. If he looked rich he thought people would like him. That is how he thought he would get Daisy. Being happy is the actual American dream, but he did not get that. Gatsby practiced what how he believed wealthy people behaved and was obsessed with impressing his long lost love

Eventually Gatsby told Tom, “your wife doesn't love you,” (130). This scene is when Gatsby and the others are at the Plaza Hotel and the truth comes out. Gatsby thinks that his American dream of happiness will finally come true. He thinks Daisy will say that she doesn’t love Tom, but at one time she really did and money took over also. Tom and Daisy just went back to the way they