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What Are The Similarities Between The Great Gatsby And The American Dream

1361 Words6 Pages

Irvin Tran Mrs.Stele AP Language & Composition Due Date From rags to riches, the American dream has been a beacon of hope for generations, motivating people to pursue their dream, face challenges head-on, and succeed in the land of opportunity. Yet, the American Dream has evolved, as has its definition. While the American dream is the idea that anyone can succeed, not everyone can attain the American Dream due to internal struggles and a lack of resources. Fitzgerald's vision of the American dream in The Great Gatsby differs significantly from today’s ideals of the American dream. Fitzgerald views the American dream as materialistic, social status, and the pursuit of pleasure. In contrast, today's standards of the American Dream are focused …show more content…

From the article by Dr. Anna Wulick, “In our first glimpse of Jay Gatsby, we see him reaching towards something far off, something in sight but definitely out of reach” Jay Gatsby represents the idealized version of the American Dream, a self-made man who overcame war and an impoverished childhood in rural North Dakota. He is a living example that anyone can succeed and move up in life through hard work and sheer willpower. Based on the article, “The country was also in the midst of an economic boom, which fueled the belief that anyone could "strike it rich" on Wall Street”. The idea “striking it rich” implies that people could make a lot of money quickly and easily off the stock market. This belief was fueled by optimism and confidence in the economy, encouraging more people willing to take the risk. Although The Great Gatsby depicts the American Dream as prioritizing financial wealth, this concept may carry on a culture that is overly materialistic and ignores the structural limitations that exist in society. The emphasis of a more welcoming and just version of the American Dream would be on progression and accomplishments, and it would take structural impediments that hinder people from realizing their full potential into account. While pursuing individual achievement, the American Dream may also be seen as a path toward personal

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