The Great Gatsby And The American Dream

Jay Gatsby, the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, attempts to change his societal status by chasing money, his dream girl, friendships with the upper class, and a West Egg that accepts him. Like many other American’s during the early 1920s, Gatsby sought success, wealth through the American Dream. In his quest for his American Dream, he sacrifices his morals and betrays the law by selling alcohol during 13 years of the prohibition in the United States. Fitzgerald conveys his negative view of the American Dream through the outcome of Jay Gatsby’s life in The Great Gatsby.

The American Dream is defined as the ideal that every US citizen should have equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard

Many people describe the American Dream as, “a vortex of hopelessness that leads to poor choices and becomes self-fulfilling.” (Kristof). This is true because many of the jobs in the 1920’s that could get people wealthy easily are not around anymore. Born a poor farmer, Gatsby was not happy with the conditions and disadvantages he faced in a small town in North Dakota. In attempt to change his status, Gatsby bootlegged, lied about his past, and got himself killed in the process of achieving the American Dream. Jay Gatsby went as far as breaking the law to get the wealth and respect that he had dreamed of all his life. Gatsby’s life shows the negative connotation that the American Dream brings. Tom Buchanan, from The Great Gatsby, was born into his wealth and is known around Long Island for his longtime wealth. One quote that describes Tom

Scott Fitzgerald is not a believer in the infamous American Dream. Jay Gatsby’s life is a prime example of the false expectations associated with the American Dream. Like most American’s, Gatsby thought his life would not only change, but improve, with a job, wealth, and change in status. However, Fitzgerald acknowledges that one cannot change the class they are born into. Fitzgerald voices his opinion through the character of Nick Caraway’s father when stating, ““a sense of fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth” (Fitzgerald 2). He suggests people are born into a specific class, and it is impossible to change which one you happen to be in. Knowing the harsh reality of the American Dream, Fitzgerald wanted to inform and entertain readers. Gatsby thought that working hard, getting a job, and gaining wealth he could get the girl of his dreams, Daisy, and live out the rest of his life in the upper class. However, “ONE delusion common among America’s successful people is that they triumphed just because of hard work and intelligence” (Kristof 1). Jay Gatsby imagined that his hard work would get him to top of society, but all the upper-class people were born there, and Fitzgerald knew that. As Gatsby gradually attempted to live up to his “American Dream”, his life spiraled downward in all the worst ways. Jay Gatsby’s fictional life is a prime example of the evil coming out of the American