How Does Fitzgerald Present The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald is renowned for vividly portraying his classic novel's extravagant Roaring Twenties in The Great Gatsby. He paints an image that captures the essence of an era defined by its wild partying, illegal drinking, and criminal appeal, enhanced with lively dancing and jazz music. The 1920s marked a period of significant social, cultural, and economic growth in the United States and a belief in endless possibilities. The American Dream guarantees that anyone can achieve success and wealth through diligent efforts. The fictional character Gatsby epitomizes the American Dream, given that Gatsby attained every aspect of his identity and wealth through optimism, dedication, and the desire to succeed. F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the

Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, exemplifies the culture of excessive materialism and extravagantly lavish lifestyles to convey money's corrupt power over a person. However, Gatsby also depicts the darker side of this culture, emphasizing the emptiness and disillusionment connected to Gatsby's drive to achieve prosperity and status. As Nick becomes more involved in the world of the wealthy, he becomes fascinated by their extravagant lifestyle. Reflected on his observation of Gatsby's party: "Here was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars" (39). Gatsby's extravagant parties are intended to impress and amuse wealthy socialites, but they also offer Gatsby an opportunity to catch Daisy's attention. The grandiosity of his mansion and its descriptors hint at the materialism and extravagance of the Roaring 20s. After walking around Gatsby's house, Gatsby brings Daisy up to his closet and begins displaying his expensive clothes: "Shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel, which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray, While we admired he brought more and the soft, rich heap mounted higher--- shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange, with monograms of Indian blue" (97). Fitzgerald utilizes the symbol of

Fitzgerald challenges readers to reflect on the morality and elusiveness of the American Dream by employing metaphoric language. Fitzgerald portrays the corruption of the American Dream in the fictional character Gatsby. As Fitzgerald draws a vivid illustration of Gatsby's disillusionment with the American Dream, the narrator characterizes him with imagery, stating, "His head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock, and from this position, his distraught eyes stared down at Daisy" (86). F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism when referring to the defunct mantelpiece clock to emphasize his desperation for the American Dream. Gatsby adamantly refuses to accept the passage of time and holds onto the hope that he can relive the past and win Daisy's love once more. Fitzgerald utilizes the broken clock as a constant reminder of Gatsby's "new money" standing, setting him apart from the other affluent individuals he associates with. Nick states in a melancholy tone, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that is no matter — tomorrow, we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... And one fine morning — So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the