Who Is Jay Gatsby A Victim Of The American Dream

The early 1920s saw the emergence of hard work and persistence as a means to achieve the American Dream. While this concept seems optimistic, equal opportunity and success are nearly nonexistent. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, a self-made man obsesses over and pursues the woman of his dreams, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby dedicates his entire life into achieving wealth and high-class in an attempt to impress her. However, Daisy is currently in an unhealthy marriage to Tom Buchanan, an arrogant man born into the American Dream that feels naturally superior to the lower class. Regardless of Daisy’s marriage, Gatsby develops a relationship with her, before eventually falling victim to the American Dream, failing to secure Daisy

During an outing in town, Gatsby confronts Tom hoping that Daisy will leave him and confess her true feelings, however she hesitates and “[realizes] at last what she [is] doing—and as though she [has] never, all along, [any intention in] doing anything at all” (Fitzgerald 132). Gatsby is unable to receive the confession he desires, as Daisy merely views him as an affair rather than a true potential lover. Despite Gatsby’s ambition, Daisy prefers Tom’s inherent wealth and luxury over Gatsby’s own self-made success. Since Tom’s wealth is more financially stable, Daisy is unable to confess any attraction towards Gatsby and risk losing the materialistic value from Tom. After the argument over Daisy’s affection between Gatsby and Tom, Nick Carroway, a mutual friend, observes Tom and Daisy noticing the two share “an unmistakable air of natural intimacy…and anybody would have said that they were conspiring together” (Fitzgerald 145). While Daisy and Tom do not share a healthy marriage, staying together is beneficial for their status. Considering Gatsby lacks the high-class background, he is unable to break the bond between Tom and Daisy. Status is an important factor in the American Dream and only truly obtainable through family heritage, a factor absent in Gatsby. Unfortunately, when Daisy murders Tom’s mistress, Myrtle