Everyone has their own idea of what the American Dream is and F. Scott Fitzgerald is no different. In Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, he depicts the American Dream as being materialistic. During this period in time, people's main focus was getting wealthy. The roaring twenties was a period in which everything and everyone changed.
In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the american dream corrupts Jay Gatsby and takes over his life. The “american dream” was invented so to say in 1931. James Truslow Adams defined the american dream as “a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of fortuitous circumstances of birth or position” (Willis para. 3). Adams also made it easier to understand by saying it is a “dream of a better, richer and happier life for all our citizens of every rank” (Willis para. 4).
In the story The Great Gatsby, the author F. Scott Fitzgerald shows what was The American Dream in the 1920s. Gatsby shows the American dream as obtaining wealth by any means possible. Everyone’s ambition was to accumulate enough wealth to afford themselves comfortable lifestyles. The novel explored a different idea of America. Their lifestyle was a model of the American dream in the 1920s.
Disenchantment: The American Dream Reimagined Through Gatsby “The American Dream is briefly defined as it is the belief that every man, whatever his origins, may pursue and attain his chosen goals, be they political, monetary, or social. It is the literary expression of the concept of America: the land of opportunity.” (Pearson) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a work of literature made and set in the 1920s of Jazz Age America.
The American Dream was the freedom and opportunity to succeed and make a better life for yourself. In the words of the Declaration of Independence, ''Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'' Though The American Dream was once an honourable goal, the wicked deeds people use it for has made it a literal dream. In the words of writer, actor, comedian, and social critic George Carlin “That's why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.” In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, many characters contribute to the fall of Gatsby, including Gatsby himself.
Eli Hanson Block 4 Mr. Millford 5-13-24 The Great Gatsby Argumentative Essay The title of The Great Gatsby alludes that Jay Gatsby, the main focus of the narrator Nick Caraway, is a great man. The definition of great is “of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average.” Throughout the novel, Gatsby takes many actions that add to the discussion of his supposed greatness. Overall, as stated in the title, Gatsby is indeed great which is shown through his immense wealth, motivations in life, and character.
The Great Gatsby Research Essay Step into F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, which represents a literary wonder that transcends its time and setting and provides profound insights into the human condition. While it may seem like just another novel that is read in high school, its importance goes far beyond just another book required to be read. In this book, Fitzgerald explores many ways of depicting a divide in social class, love, and idealism. As Gatsby stares across into East Egg from his West Egg estate, he desperately wants everything that makes up Daisy, but most of all wants her love. Also, social class includes immense divides between "old money," as represented by Tom and Daisy Buchanan, "new money," as represented by Gatsby, and the poor
The Great Gatsby: The Reality of the American Dream Lavish parties. Designer clothing. Grand Estates. Status. The. Wealth.
Throughout The Great Gatsby, the concept of the "American Dream" is significantly used. The "American Dream" is a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S., especially by working hard and becoming successful (Webster). During the book, many characters perceive the "American Dream" differently. Gatsby is an excellent example of this because he came from nothing and reached the top. Gatsby was by himself and poor as a young man.
At Gatby’s parties, the upper echelon of society mingle with each other, but all connections made are severed by the time the sun rises the next morning. Nick was Gatsby’s only true friend, because although his house was full of eclectic guests and electric fun, when the liquor stopped flowing, as did their compassion. They, along with Gatsby, were empty people. Gatsby roamed his big house and blue garden, trying to attain “just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end.”(76) Meaning that Gatsby conceived a version of himself that would accomplish everything he was looking for.
The American Dream is something we wish we could all achieve. The American Dream is no matter what your background is, man or women can rise up and be successful. The American Dream shows hope if you work hard enough. Gatsby seeked a new lifestyle and wanted to become successful and he did. In F. Scott Fitzgerald the great Gatsby, Gatsby represents the American Dream lifestyle.
The American Dream has many meanings for different people. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald tells many different stories throughout the novel and how much the American Dream means to each character in the 1920’s. Gatsby is a character who would do whatever it takes at whatever cost to achieve success. The American Dream is supposed to portray hard work and determination, but as each character attempts to achieve their success, many tragic events begin to occur. As harsh realities start to stand in the way, the American Dream becomes more unattainable and destructive over time.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald used The Great Gatsby to show his belief in the American Dream: “He warned that a pursuit of happiness driven by greed was not attainable. That is because someone else always had more” (Amadeo). Jay Gatsby tried all his life to fulfill his dream but he always faced failure because he yearned beyond what could be given to him. The definition of the American Dream is a farce that leads to discouragement and disappointments (Arnade). No matter how hard one works, the American Dream will bring people to discontent because of society’s obsession with unattainable desires.
The American Dream is the idea that anyone, regardless of where they come from, can attain their version of success. This success is different for different people, each person has their idea of the American dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald's book The Great Gatsby, published in 1925, explores the character Jay Gatsby’s American Dream through the narration of his close friend Nick Caraway. Nick narrates his experience of a summer with Jay Gatsby, in 1922, who spends his life a single dream of being reunited with his love Daisy Buchanan, who he lost five years earlier. The story of Gatsby takes him from poverty to immense wealth, to his love Daisy, and eventually to his demise.
The theme is how it is a lie, and the characters in “The Great Gatsby” make this noticeable with their actions. The American Dream in the 1920’s is the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. It also includes having a picture perfect family, and living up to society's expectations.
