Why Is The American Dream Important In The Great Gatsby

Sydney Smith
Mr. Gillespie
Dual Enrollment British and American Literature
28 April, 2023
The American Dream America has been continuously growing and developing making it a sought after country to live in. People from all over the world have felt this way about America for centuries. This has been proven countless times through texts that have risen to popularity throughout the years such as the Great Gatsby. America offers a variety of new opportunities including careers, improved housing, and overall equality that may not be available in other countries. These qualities have attracted people in the past to move here and continue to be a motive for people to come today. The American Dream is an ideology that has been an attractive quality

Scott Fitzgerald is a timeless classic with a theme of the American Dream. A youngman in the story named Nick Carraway, moves to New York from Minnesota. His new next door neighbor, Jay Gatsby, lives in a mansion and is known for throwing massive parties. Nick studied and formerly played football and Yale. Because of this he had many connections in the East Egg of town, however, he lived in the West Egg where he did not know as many people. One evening his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom had him over for dinner where he was introduced to Jordan Baker. Nick and Jordan begin a romantic relationship. During this time, Jordan reveals to Nick that Tom is having an affair with a woman named Myrtle. Nick is eventually invited to one of Gatsby’s parties. He learns that Gatsby knew Daisy in the past and is in love with her. He says that the reason for the extravagant parties was to get Daisy's attention and impress her. Gatsby and Daisy rediscover their attraction for each other and begin to have an affair as well. Conflicts steadily arise throughout the group and Daisy hits Myrtle with a car. Gatsby took the blame for her actions. Myrtle's husband George, is so enraged about the situation that he shoots Gatsby at the pool of his own mansion and then shoots himself, taking his own life. Nick realizes that Gastby’s dream of impressing Daisy was filled with dishonest and corrupt usages of other people's money. On the surface level, the book may just seem like a

Positively, many people have successfully built their dream life in our country. However, the people who have been deemed “successful” are the powerful and wealthy. As stated in the quote this has created a social conflict. Someone who may not fit the mold of a person living the “American Dream” may be treated differently and seen as an outcast. When in reality, they are working for the same life as those discriminating against them. The dominance and power held over the lower class is intimidating and harmful in their progression of attaining the american