The Rise and Fall of the American Dream
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a tragic love story but is also a clear representation of the American dream. Most characters in the novel wanted wealth, fame, and success and would do anything in their power to get this. What they did not realize was that money could not buy them happiness. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald shows how relationships are broken and dreams are eventually ruined by the harsh reality of life. Fitzgerald does a great job representing the rise and fall of the American dream, through symbols like the valley of ashes, the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg, and the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. Fitzgerald uses the valley of ashes, an industrial wasteland covered in
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The green light symbolizes Gatsby’s dreams, hopes, and desires to reunite with Daisy. The reader gets introduced to the green light when Nick, the narrator says, “he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness”(19). Jay Gatsby’s life was a clear representation of the American dream. Gatsby came from humble roots and rose to be notoriously wealthy, but was still missing the reason for his wealth. Gatsby was willing to give up his family and even change his name to chase the girl of his dreams. To Gatsby, the green light represented his dream which was Daisy. To obtain her would have completed Gatsby’s American dream. Unfortunately, Daisy ultimately chooses Tom and Gatsby is killed. The failure of Gatsby 's aim in life relates to the failure of the American dream. The green light similar to the American dream is forever just out of