The Great Gatsby Flaws

FITZGERALD’S IMPLICATIONS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM The American Dream is a glorified version of America that is sought after by millions of people around the world each year. Some who strive for this success are victorious, while some are not as fortunate. In America, those who are a part of new money are self-made and obtain their wealth through work. There is a strong judgment between old money and new money because of their contrasting ideals. In The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan is a prominent character with “a supercilious manner” and an overwhelmingly contemptuous demeanor for those whom he qualifies over (Fitzgerald 7). Tom comes from an “enormously wealthy” family which shows how he grew up with generational prosperity and is a part of old money and not the working class (6). Fitzgerald’s articulation of

He wants the oppressed to stay suppressed, exactly as he prevents the working class from gaining wealth. Tom perceives Gatsby as a part of the working class, calling him a “common swindler” due to his past actions (133). Tom feels threatened by Gatsby because he thinks Daisy will leave him. He has an outburst in which he reveals how he believes Gatsby is a thief and needy. When claiming he would need to loot a ring in order to catch Daisy, it represents how Tom still believes Gatsby relates to the working class. Indicating how Gatsby does not have money proves that Tom still views him as poor, which is a demonstration of Tom’s oppression of those who are not even currently a part of the lower class. Generally, Tom portrays the Bourgeoisie and still does when he observes Gatsby as a part of the Proletariat although it is extremely distinct how he is not. Since Tom is aware of Gatsby’s past, he holds it against him and therefore he feels obligated to degrade him since Gatsby did not grow up with money