The Meaning Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

The concept of the American Dream has existed from the beginning of the country, but the meaning of it is always changing. Many examples of the American Dream are found in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby including Jay Gatsby’s move from rags to riches. With his new wealth Gatsby throws elaborate parties with the hope of attracting his former love, Daisy Buchanan. Due to his infatuation, Gastby gets swept up in the lives of the upper class. Tom Buchanan, who comes from a long line of wealth, is unfaithful to his wife with a woman, Myrtle Wilson, who longs for Tom's lifestyle. Due to the mistakes of the rich both Myrtle and Gatsby end up dead before they can truly reach their dreams. The failed dreams and the gaping gap between the rich

For years, he works hard, and eventually his efforts pay off, and he captures Daisy's attention. However this only causes trouble for Gatsby when Myrtle’s husband, George Willson is “in West Egg, where he asked someone the way to Gatsby’s house” (Fitzgerald 160). During his quick visit to West Egg Willson asks Tom who is responsible for Myrtle’s death. Due to Tom’s selfishness he blames Gatsby’s. Tom’s self-centered actions crush Gatsby’s hopes and dreams of ever being with Daisy again. He is able to reach one part of the American Dream, but due to the rich he falls short of happiness. Myrtle also gets a taste of her American Dream during her affair with Tom where she goes to fancy parties and wears nice clothes, but that is short lasting since Tom does not actually love her. Myrtle would drop everything to be with him but continuously lies to her and explains that “It’s really his wife that’s keeping them apart.

In New York City there is an area between East and West Eggs and Manhattan called the valley of ashes which contains a “motor road [that] hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile, so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land” (Fitzgerald 23). The placement of the railroad is made so people coming from the Eggs do not have to be in the valley of ashes for long. The rich completely ignore the poor showing that they only care about people with money. The poor are then stuck in a never-ending cycle of poverty which makes it nearly impossible to move up in society. Even when people like Myrtle try they inevitably are pushed back down which rejects the idea of the American Dream. Another way that the rich dominate the poor is due to the privileges that their wealth grants them. After Gatsby, Myrtle, and George’s deaths the Buchanans “had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them” (Fitzgerald 164). In the face of trouble they have the ability to run away. Due to their status they are able to live out their dreams while others are left back unable to achieve their dreams. Another example of the rejection of the American Dream is found in George Willson. His garage that is located in the valley of ashes does not bring in enough money to make his wife happy. That is one of the causes of her affair with Tom. That affair crushes a part of