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Values In The Great Gatsby

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The American Dream is the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. In other words, an individual who has money, a vehicle, a place of residence, formal clothes, and a happy family is living the American Dream. The novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the theme :the decline of the American Dream. With that being said the essay “Moral Perfection” by Benjamin Franklin and the art piece “Immigrants Arriving at Ellis Island” further my understanding of the theme portrayed in The Great Gatsby. Furthermore, The Great Gatsby is a novel that demonstrates/gives the reader a more detailed explanation and vivid picture …show more content…

To him the American Dream was that any man can earn prosperity, economic security, and community respect. Hard work and honest communication was the way to earn this respect. His virtue of sincerity supports this by saying “Use no harmful deceit. Think innocently and justify; and if you speak, speak accordingly.” Franklin created 13 virtues that would mold him into being perfect, which is what the American Dream consists of…. …show more content…

Yes, the American Dream was that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. However, going about it the under the wrong circumstances and reasons, the desire to live this dream is bound to destroy you in the long run. With the help of the art piece,” Immigrants Arriving at Ellis Island” my understanding of the decline of the American Dream expanded. The reason being that they represent the aftermath of trying to live the American Dream life under the wrong circumstances and reasons. In a nutshell, the desire for something can cause people to be someone they’re not which doesn’t result in a positive outcome. Most characters in The Great Gatsby novel all wanted wealth and happiness. During this time, all women married not for love, but for the money forgetting the fact that money can’t buy true happiness. The American Dream was the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success. The Great Gatsby showed me just how the American Dream declined and Moral Perfection as well as Immigrants Arriving at Ellis Island furthered my

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