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How Did The Great Gatsby Fail

1031 Words5 Pages

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, his depiction of the American Dream suggests that it is not for everyone. He builds this theory through the ideas that the American Dream has two parts, it tests if you are capable of achieving the American Dream, and the American Dream is not always what you dreamed of. Throughout the book, different characters attempt to pursue the American Dream. Many fail by giving up while others make it to the very end. However, in any circumstance you always have to do more in order to maintain the American Dream. In The Great Gatsby, both the Buchanans and Gatsby attempt to achieve the dream, Daisy and Tom are successful while Gatsby is not.

In the beginning of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald …show more content…

For example, Tom comes across as rich man living a perfect life with lots of respect, why is he so grumpy and sour towards others as well as feeling obligated to cheat on Daisy and have an affair with Myrtle despite his life seeming so good. Tom’s life is not perfect, nor is Gatsby’s life, despite their effort to reach perfection, it is impossible to become perfect. Opposed to Tom and Gatsby, Fitzgerald thinks that they both have some good in them; not all of their actions a necessarily awful. For example, Tom says “And what’s more, I love Daisy to. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time.” (Fitzgerald 138) This shows that Tom is not always a bad person and that he can be good at times and just wants a lifelong partner. Gatsby and Tom’s life are more high strung than Nick’s life, however, they all are so different from each other that they fit together and complement each other nicely. Gatsby’s extravagant lifestyle became even more obvious when given the fact that he lives next to Nick. He is an average man who lives a good life rather than a fancy one. He is smart about his wealth; he was born into wealth, but doesn’t go on spending sprees. For example, Nick has the money to cut his lawn but he chooses not to. Nick lives a satisfactory life due to his unconditional love to anyone who gives him attention. Nick is also attached to Gatsby through the American Dream. Nick enjoys the perks of the American Dream, but is also content living without

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