Negative Effects Of The Great Gatsby

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Azar Nafisi, an Iranian-American writer, and professor, once said, “The negative side of chasing the American Dream comes when people pursue success at any cost, which in turn destroys the vision and the dream”. This quote, on the surface, appears to suggest that chasing the American Dream is a bad thing. However, upon closer examination, it reveals that sometimes people lose sight of their goals by prioritizing success above all else, causing them to move further away from their initial dreams. This concept is explored in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, set in the roaring 1920s, where the characters' glamorous lives are ultimately shown to be empty and unfulfilling. Through the character of Nick Carraway, the narrator, Fitzgerald delves into the dangers of following the American Dream, illustrating how the desire for wealth and status can lead to emotional isolation and dissatisfaction. …show more content…

Gatsby is a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties every weekend, though many of the attendees do not even know him but come for his parties. “I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited-they went there…. Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party…” (pg. 41). This demonstrates that Gatsby feels the need to have these parties to gain acceptance in his community. However, the fact that many people do not even meet Gatsby suggests that they are more interested in the status the party provides than in genuinely connecting with him. By highlighting this, Fitzgerald underscores the loneliness that wealth and status can bring to those who try to fit