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The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

1368 Words6 Pages

Gatsby American Dream The 1920s seemed to have set a center stage for the pursuit of happiness and equality in the United States. Post World War One was characterized by the need for economic freedom and the ability to move from one social and economic status to another. The pursuit of happiness was gradually becoming an integral part of the American culture. People’s beliefs, perceptions, attitudes, and values were also changing. With that being said, prior to the war, the American Dream seemed more accessible to all, it constituted the idea of believing that hard work was the primary determinant of economic power and social status that seemed equal to all. The American Dream, for many, was perceived as a gateway for freedom in relation to …show more content…

The factors explain the economic gap between men and women, and amongst the different races. The Declaration of Independence indicated that equality was a right of all the citizens. Therefore, it was expected that the government would be able to create an equal playing ground for all the people. However, the marginalization and social isolation are some of the key features of the society. The legitimate means of achieving the American dream are well defined. For instance, one is required to have the quality education, work hard, and become ambitious. However, as demonstrated from the novel, there is an unequal distribution of opportunities that should enable people to achieve the American dream. Currently, for instance, the cost of education is very high that most of the people from the poor backgrounds cannot afford. As a result, many people will drop out of school, get poor paying jobs, which explains the cycle of poverty. On the other hand, children from the affluent families will get the quality education, which will enable them to get employed, hence maintaining the social status. The American Society is witnessing a surge in crimes, especially involving drug trafficking amongst the young Americans. When the legitimate means of achieving the American dream fail, people will tend to use the illegitimate means. it is vital to note that people still believe in the American dream, and will do anything possible to ensure that they have achieved their goals. Gatsby was arrested for allegedly participating in crime. This is the same challenge that most of the young people are facing as they try to improve their standards of

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