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The Great Gatsby Research Paper

1075 Words5 Pages

The Effects of the American Dream “Money is not good or evil”. It has no morals or intentions on its own. Money reflects the character of the user.” (Dave Ramsey) The American dream seems like an exciting endeavor, but excess money often leads to greed and immorality. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s thrilling 1920s novel, The Great Gatsby, readers witness the compelling story of Nick Caraway and his interactions with the elites of American society. Characters such as Tom Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, and Myrtle Willson represent the dangers of excessive wealth and fortune gained from pursuing the American Dream. The Great Gatsby represents Fitzgerald's critiques of the American dream and the immorality it brings out of normal people. Fitzgerald uses Tom Buchanan …show more content…

Myrtle is an ungrateful woman who has an affair with Tom Buchanan. Myrtle is obsessed with looking wealthy and upper class, she spends lots of money on her outings with Tom and makes sure her outfits look the part. Myrtle takes advantage of Tom's riches, when she asks for a puppy, he replies “Here's your money, go buy ten more dogs with it.” (38) Myrtle doesn't care for Tom, she only cares about the money he comes with. Myrtle uses Tom as an outlet for the American Dream, instead of working for it she tricks others into believing she is of high social status. F. Scott Fitzgerald also uses Myrtle's untimely death to critique the pursuit of the American Dream. Directly before the crash, Myrtle noticed what she believed to be Tom’s car in the distance. Myrtle then “rushed out into the dusk, waving her hands and shaking.” (121) Before she could process what was happening, the car ran over her. Myrtle spends her whole married life in a meaningless affair, all the wealth in the world cannot stop her tragic passing. She was so focused on adopting this new lifestyle she forgot what mattered, her husband waiting at

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