Gatsby's wealth and extravagant lifestyle make it appear that he is living the American Dream, but in reality, he is a criminal who obtained his wealth through illegal means. Daisy is also shallow and manipulative. Gatsby's obsession with Daisy and his pursuit of the American Dream represent the illusion that anyone can achieve success and happiness through hard work and determination. However, the reality is that the American Dream is often unattainable, and those who do achieve it may find that it is not all that they imagined it to be, resulting in Gatsby going to extreme measures to try and come out on top. the reality is that social class is not solely determined by wealth, and those who come from humble beginnings can still achieve success and respect. Tom Buchanan has an …show more content…
This highlights the idea that appearances can be deceiving, as Daisy's initial appearance of happiness masks her deeper feelings of uncertainty and hesitation. Gatsby's belief that he can recreate the past with Daisy highlights the theme of appearance vs reality by demonstrating how individuals can become so obsessed with appearances and their own desires that they lose touch with reality. Nick's observation about Tom and Daisy's behavior highlights the idea that appearances can be used to mask the truth about individuals. Although Tom and Daisy appear to be wealthy and successful, their careless behavior reveals the true nature of their character. Appearances can be deceiving: Throughout the novel, characters are not what they seem. Similarly, Daisy appears to be a beautiful and charming woman. The illusion of the American Dream. Social class and appearance: In the novel, social class is closely tied to appearance. Characters from West Egg, such as Gatsby, are viewed as "new money" and are looked down upon by those from East Egg, who are seen as "old