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Novel reflections on the american dream
Novel reflections on the american dream
Novel reflections on the american dream
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For millennia, authors have used colors as symbols and we, as a society, have come to associate certain hues with corresponding ideas and emotions. In his novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald often uses color as a descriptor in order to sway readers’ opinions of characters and situations. Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker are two such characters and Fitzgerald uses color imagery to encourage specific perceptions of them, particularly by portraying Daisy as a seemingly innocent, angelic figure, while depicting Jordan as a liar and a fraud. Though looking at their actions reveals that neither woman is truly blameless, observing Fitzgerald’s color choices can allow us to ascertain who they once were, how others view them, and who they believe
Gatsby represents the American Dream, the ideal that through hard work and determination that Americans could be prosperous, however this appealing ethos was practically unachievable. Gatsby personified his American dream to ‘achieving’ his relationship with Daisy, which Fitzgerald then manifested this dream as unattainable. Gatsby’s shirts that he throws to Daisy symbolises immense wealth. Furthermore, the carelessness of throwing his expensive shirts demonstrations how Gatsby was willing to sacrifice everything for Daisy’s love.
In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays women in an extremely negative light. The idea Fitzgerald gives off is that women are only good for their looks and their bodies and that they should just be a sex symbol rather than actually use their heads. He treats women like objects and the male characters in the novel use women, abuse women, and throw them aside. I believe that Daisy, Jordan and Myrtle are prime examples of women in The Great Gatsby being treated poorly.
Gatsby has spent his whole life trying to prove to Daisy and everyone around him that he is worthy of her. The only way to be on the same social level as her is to turn himself into new money. Since this is not possible, he has to try to convince to others that he truly is old money. To do this, he becomes rich, and lies about his past, but the only way for him to complete this idea is if he is with Daisy. She is the final piece in his American dream.
In his novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald explores the reality of the American Dream. Throughout the novel, he uses Daisy to represent the American Dream. In chapter eight, after Daisy crashes the car, “she vanish[es] into her rich house… leaving Gatsby nothing” (149). Daisy is depicted as soulless; she is willing to let Gatsby take the fall for her faults. In order to remain the American Dream, Daisy must appear blameless to society; therefore, the common man must always take responsibility for her mistakes.
Women often feel like a commodity or prize to be won. For example, Wealthy women are sought after for their position in society. In The Great Gatsby, the pursuit of wealth through Daisy shows this when Gatsby says, “Her voice is full of money”(120). Daisy is not heard for what she is saying but only by what she can offer. Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and status influences his chase after Daisy.
Gatsby’s desire to rekindle with Daisy makes him not care about the price of anything. Gatsby’s endless desire to be with the girl of his dreams possess him to do everything under the sun to get Daisy back. Nick goes out to eat lunch with Jordan and Jordan is telling Nick about what Gatsby told her at the party the other night “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay" (Fitzgerald 78). Gatsby bought the biggest and fanciest house because it showed how much money he had and it was directly across the bay from Daisy, so he could be in proximity of her. Jordan is explaining to Nick that Gatsby loves Daisy and that is what he needed to talk to her about the other night at the party when he told Jordan that he needed to
The American Dream suggests that every American citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work. One of the major ways that Fitzgerald portrays this is by alluding to outside events or works of literature specifically from that time period. Another major relationship that develops in The Great Gatsby is between Tom and Daisy. F. Scott Fitzgerald alludes to things such as the World’s Fair and “The Love Nest” to display the eventual dismantling of Tom and Daisy’s relationship. Both of these separate plots consolidate under the idea of Gatsby trying to become the epitome of the American Dream, as seen through his strive for a “perfect life.”
The Roaring 20s was a era of prosperity and wealth and a perfect setting for the lavish story of The Great Gatsby. 1920s New York is described in Baz Luhrmann’s production of the film, as a time where, “Stocks reached record peaks, and Wall Street boomed a steady golden roar. The parties were bigger, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the ban on alcohol had backfired, making the liquor cheaper.” The initial description of the money and fortune of New York makes life look like a party. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald proves that the glamour and wealth of the 1920s is just a facade that obstructs the reality of the lives of Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby.
Albert Einstein said “Love brings much happiness, much more so than pining for someone brings pain.” From the beginning of time to the 21st century society preference is the wealth in someone instead of finding the true love. Therefore the hopefulness in world is dawning to decline. Having F. Scott Fitzgerald writing his reasons towards hopelessness, proving there is no more hope for Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and the rest that are included The Great Gatsby.
This indicates that Gatsby was a man who believed in the “orgastic future” and a world that was superior to the one he found himself in. Furthermore, Gatsby 's attempt to pursue the American Dream is seen through his struggle to reach for the “green light” which symbolizes Gatsby 's dream of being with Daisy, This is demonstrated when: He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness (5).
John A. Pidgeon says that, “The theme of Gatsby is the withering of the American Dream”(Pidgeon 179). The prime example of this is Gatsby, who “believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther” (Fitzgerald 180). The green light symbolizes Gatsby’s dream to be upper class with Daisy, but he can never reach it. Furthermore, it is frustrating for him that when he does attain wealth, Daisy is still out of his reach.
Fitzgerald uses clothing and fashion as a comparison to the “American Dream” because it is forever changing and its value is different to every person. Daisy herself is a metaphor of the “American Dream”, she being dressed in white symbolizes the “purity” of the “Golden Dream”. Gatsby spends his whole life trying to reach her, like the green light, but in his eyes he is never successful. Even though to many people Gatsby has achieved the American Dream he himself is not content because of his obsession with destroying and preserving his past. He would never be happy with his wealth or having Daisy, unless she said that she only ever loved him, and he came from old money.
In the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, what Jay Gatsby feels for Daisy Buchanan is obsession. Gatsby revolves and rearranges his entire life in order to gain her affections. Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy resulted in him buying a mansion across the lake from her, throwing huge parties, and spending years of his life trying to become rich. Gatsby bought mansion intentionally across the lake from Daisy just to be closer to her.
Gatsby represents the American Dream throughout the story, he works hard towards rewarding achievements but is let down, because others would rather have money, power, and society’s approval. Jay Gatsby grew up in a poor family from North Dakota. As a farm child he worked hard and followed the American dream. He wanted to escape the poor farm life and make a name for himself. He wanted to be someone that was looked up to by others.
