“Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right” Said by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a great example of the mindset of the people participating in the lavish parties in the 1920s. The Great Gatsby takes place in post-war America. A time consumed by peoples desire for wealth status and the American Dream. Jay Gatsby is a great representation of this era’s aspirations. Through Gatsby’s desire for status, his hopeless chase for love, and the empty legacy he leaves behind, Fitzgerald warns the reader about the dangers of pursuing the American Dream. Gatsby’s constant pursuit of status is a great example of how dangerous it can be to pursue goals for the wrong reason. Gatsby, originally named James Gatz, creates a new person for himself as a rich and charismatic party host in order to show off his new lavish lifestyle. …show more content…
I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors were educated there for many years. It is a family tradition." Fitzgerald, p. 65. Gastby lies about his past in order to disguise himself as a more important figure, showing how the pursuit of status can lead to you being a more dishonest person. He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced—or seemed to face—the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor." Fitzgerald, p. 48. Gatsby’s smile hides his worries and highlights his need for approval, proving that chasing status can make one feel like they are not good enough. Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy shows us how the American Dream can alter our desires and make us forget our