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The Great Gatsby Research Paper

845 Words4 Pages

The American Dream, the belief that everyone has freedom and the opportunity to achieve their own version of success, played a huge role in the development of our country. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the idea that the American Dream is attainable and beneficial is seriously challenged. The novel, set in the 1920s, a time of prosperity and growth, allows readers to explore the consequences those striving to reach this status face. Fitzgerald uses wealth, social status, desire, and the development of characters to challenge the American Dream ideology. During the roaring 20s, the country was going through dramatic economic change. Wealth and status became driving forces for those wanting to achieve society acceptance. The …show more content…

Gatsby’s new found riches brought along tragedy and misfortune. Although Gatsby achieved his goal of wealth and status, he always longed for more. Throughout the whole book he never felt fulfilled with what he had, causing him to partake in illegal activities such as bootlegging in order to feel more successful. Along with the pursuit of wealth, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s investigation of the ideology surrounding the American dream, finding love is also a factor contributing to societal status. Throughout the whole novel, Jay Gatsby had one goal, to win his old lover, Daisy Buchanan, back. In earlier years, Gatsby and Daisy had a relationship, but the timing was bad and they had to end their affairs when Gatsby left for war. For five years, Gatsby did everything to prove he could take care of her, like he was not able to in the past. Gatsby longed so much for her love that he moved into a house across the water from her, and situated his house to be able to see the glowing light at the end of Daisy's

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