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The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis Essay In the novel, The Great Gatsby, there are many different plot points that drive the story, but one in particular that acts as a driver is the American Dream. In the book, among the plot points, there are Love, Wealth, Lies and Deceit, and The American Dream. The American Dream acts as a driver for most of the main characters, showing that they want to pursue happiness in their own ways. Sometimes they are similar, and sometimes they are different, but they all center around the American dream. All of the characters view success in their own way; they all just want to have their dreams come true. One of the most prominent characters that pursue the American Dream is Jay Gatsby. Throughout the book, Gatsby …show more content…

The people of East Egg just use their money as a tool to do what they want. "The Buchanan's live on one side, East Egg, and Jay Gatsby lives on the other side, West Egg. The Buchanans belong to the socialites, yet their lives have no meaning, Gatsby tries to chase the American Dream, yet his idea is tarnished." Atlantic Monthly: April 16, 1998: pgs. 23-25). The adage is a sham. The values of all of these people are closer to how Gatsby values his money than the people of West Egg. All of the characters on West Egg and all the characters on East Egg are exact contradictions of each other, except Gatsby who seems like he would belong on East Egg. In the story, you can tell that Gatsby's driving action is his love, not his money, it is love. That shows that in Gatsby's eyes, getting his love is his own success, his own American dream. Throughout the whole book, Gatsby references his love for Daisy and how he looks over to her dock over the water, and near the end of the story, once he archives it, he has finally achieved his dream. He stretched out his arms toward the dark water. . . . I. . …show more content…

When I looked once more at Gatsby, he had vanished. . . ." The Great Gatsby pg. 24. The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid afore In the story, it is not just the main characters pursuing their dreams, many of the side characters also have some sort of dream for success. For example, Jordan Baker is a more important character among all of the side characters, she seems like someone who has achieved their dream, she has all that she wants and only wants more for convenience. She only likes Nick because he entertains her. Jordan is the example character that has achieved everything that she wanted and doesn't need any more. The last person to talk about is Nick. Nick is the main character of the Great Gatsby. His only dream is to be successful in his own life, he wants to be rich by earning his wealth doing only what he loves. Nick idolized Gatsby because he wanted to be in the same situation as him, he wanted to be Gatsby. Nick, in the story, also worries for Gatsby, he wants to have what Gatsby has, but he doesn't want to become him. He stretched out his arms toward the dark water. . . . I. . . distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away. . .

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The American dream is a major theme in Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," exploring whether it is realistic or unrealistic. Fitzgerald dives into the aspirations for wealth, symbolism, and the results of chasing such a dream through characters like Jay Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy Buchanan. The book's protagonist, Gatsby, is the personification of the American dream. At the beginning of the story, it is clear that he wishes to be with Daisy, in addition to his social status and wealth. His constant ambition is shown many times throughout the book.

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