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What Was The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

866 Words4 Pages

The Unattainable American Dream “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Source A). Jay Gatsby shares that no matter what happens or how hard you try you are trying still trying to achieve an impossible accomplishment. Some say that the American dream can be achieved and that is how people became rich. The reality is that the American dream is not what gave them wealth at all. In the book, The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates how people try endlessly to obtain the impossible American dream illegally, in hopes of social prosperity, and wealth. To start, many people think through illegal loopholes they can achieve what they think is the American dream. Jay Gatsby had a very different …show more content…

Many people in the past, and even today think that striving to achieve the American dream and have so much wealth will bring them a better social life. In Source G the cartoon depicts how a man purchased a large truck and says to his neighbor that he thought buying the truck would bring the American dream now it is causing a headache. The man thought that buying the truck would show his wealth and bring social benefits, but it truly did the opposite. He realizes that buying anything does not help achieve anything, it just brings problems and issues. It could be said that the man was trying to make it known to his neighbor that he purchased a new expensive car and wants to make sure that everyone knows what his social status is. People have lived many lies they have been told, and they never know. Source H, shows a father trying to explain to his kids that “they can become whatever they want, and this time it is true.” This reiterates the fact that many people think and try so hard to achieve something in hopes to live better socially, and they have to explain to their kids that they can be whatever they what they are told. This helps to extend the American dream. People try endlessly to achieve a dream of social prosperity throughout the American dream, but that is not what gives them that. In conclusion, Americans hope that finally achieving the American dream will them great wealth.

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