What Are The Similarities Between The Great Gatsby And A Raisin In The Sun

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The Great Gatsby and A Raisin in the Sun are two works of literature that explore the complexities of the American Dream and the challenges of achieving it. Despite their differences in setting, time, and plot, these two works share several similarities in terms of their thematic content and characters. Gatsby and The Younger family both explore the American Dream as a driving force for their actions, but while the former highlights the corruption and superficiality of the pursuit, the latter emphasizes the resilience and determination of the characters to overcome social and economic barriers to achieve their dreams making them similar rather than different. In both A Raisin in the Sun and The Great Gatsby, the American Dream serves as a …show more content…

The Great Gatsby captures the recurring theme of the book, which is the idea that individuals cannot escape the past, no matter how hard they try. The character of Jay Gatsby tries to recreate his past and erase his humble beginnings but ultimately fails. Similarly, the characters in A Raisin in the Sun are also haunted by their past and struggle to move beyond the limitations of their social and economic circumstances. Additionally, "Just tell me, what it is you want to be—and you’ll be it. . . . Whatever you want to be—Yessir! You just name it, son . . . and I hand you the world!" (Hansberry 109). A Raisin in the Sun reflects the theme of the American Dream, which is also present in The Great Gatsby. The characters in both books are striving to achieve a better life and overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. The characters in A Raisin in the Sun are looking to escape poverty and discrimination, while the characters in The Great Gatsby are looking to achieve wealth and status. Furthermore, both works deal with the idea of the American Dream and the pursuit of wealth and success. In The Great Gatsby, the main character Jay Gatsby is driven by his desire to attain wealth and status to win back his