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Why Is The Great Gatsby American Dream Flawed

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Many readers see The Great Gatsby as a promising novel that explores the American Dream, but The American Dream has often been flawed throughout the book. The book takes place through the eyes of Nick Carraway, a discerning young man who tries to prove his honesty but, at the same time, serves as an intermediate for most conflicting characters. Multiple points of view are shown throughout the book and possibly take on whether characters in this book exploit the reputable American Dream. The leading man, Jay Gatsby, tries hard to live out his dream but falls short of the values America always backs to that restrain upon the American Dream. In Fitgeralzd’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream can be seen by some readers as attainable because …show more content…

The rise of fame Gatsby elevates very quickly because of his illegal business, but the reader does not learn this until midway through the book. The Dream has a natural flaw because of Gatsby's value of material possessions. He values possessions like his house because he needs them to prove to himself the reality of his wealth, backed up by illegal doings. Owl Eyes, A character in the book, pokes around Gatsby's mansion for the truth about his wealth. He is distraught when he realizes Gatsby's books are not made of “nice durable cardboard”(Citation ). The fact that he searches Gatsby's house and expects to come up with emptiness because of his fault uncovers the American Dream as an unreliable fraud or temporary life position. Also, the dream will never reach attainability because of America’s social classes, set in stone by the aristocrats who built the country. Also, Gatsby lives for his previous life, with regret every day. This regret roots from the kiss that struck his life, he kissed a wealthy girl, Daisy Buchanan, and has been spell broken for her love ever since. The Past, along with a faulty business, stirs a crack in The American Dream, and when Gatsby is at his peak, his Dream snaps. Gatsby is late to realize this and metaphorically reaches “out his arms toward the dark” by participating in the corruption of society through illegal means of wealth. This snaps when he reaches too far into the past

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