What Is The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

(Hook needed) In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is a man living society’s American Dream with great wealth, although at the end of the day, even his money cannot buy what he really desires; a relationship with Daisy.

Even with all of Jay Gatsby’s wealth, he never really achieves his American Dream. The book takes place in the state of New York in 1920’s. During this time the idea of the American Dream was something everyone wanted to achieve. The American Dream is “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” The American Dream is about reaching your goal, and finding your place in America. In the book, the main character, Jay Gatsby definitely

(Pretends to be old money when he is really new money). Daisy and Jay met in Kentucky while Gatsby was stationed there as Lieutenant in The Great War. They fell in love, but while Gatsby was still fighting she went and married Tom Buchanan. Before the wedding Daisy experienced great depression and cold feet and became extremely intoxicated before her wedding day. She was faithful to Tom throughout their marriage but Fitzgerald shows major red flags in their marriage even in the first chapter of this book. Gatsby told Daisy that he came from old money and that he could support her but “he might have despised himself, for he had certainly taken her under false pretenses...he had deliberately given Daisy a sense of security; he let her believe that he was a person from the stratum as herself…[that he was able to take care of her, but he couldnt and didnt have those facilities]...” (Page 149) It is revealed in Chapter Four, that everything Gatsby spends his money on is for Daisy to recognize him: “‘Gatsby only bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.’” (Page 78) Another action that Gatsby did to show off his wealth and impress Daisy was by throwing these grand parties at his mansion in West Egg. Nick describes the parties to the reader and says, ““There was music from my neighbor's house through the...nights...men