During the Great War Era in the United States, most Americans dreamt of hope, and not much more. When the country emerged from the war victorious, however, a new American Dream was on the horizon. Gone were the days of searching for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By 1920, Americans were more interested in material culture and the never-ending quest for more. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, chronicles a man living in New York during the 1920’s, who perfectly symbolizes America’s new Dream. Jay Gatsby possessed, for lack of a better word, a lot of things: a huge mansion with a pool, a beautiful car, a closet full of fancy clothes, and a whole lot of money. He threw lavish parties every weekend, where he welcomed large …show more content…
His residence was described by Nick Carraway as “a colossal affair by any standard... with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden” (Fitzgerald 5). It’s clear from this description that Gatsby not only had the means to own such a mansion, but also the desire to constantly improve upon it. Even his car was exquisite. “It was a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of wind-shields that mirrored a dozen suns” (Fitzgerald 64). Jay Gatsby was not satisfied with just any car; only the fanciest of Rolls-Royces was good enough for him. If his house and car were not a sufficient display of wealth for Gatsby, his parties certainly were. Complete with a full orchestra, synchronized swimmers, and enough cocktails to knock all of West Egg off of their feet, Gatsby spared no expense on his social gatherings (Fitzgerald 40). People came from miles around to awe in disbelief of one man’s material possessions; Gatsby had what they longed