Effects Of American Dream In The Great Gatsby - 711 Words

As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, â€Å"There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired.† Any American, no matter their background or characteristics, strives to attain one thing: the American Dream. It is planted in each citizen’s brain to never stop reaching toward their goals of success. However, the American Dream is either given or earned, which leaves a dilemma in society pertaining to who may and may not have it. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s use of a concept such as the American Dream within The Great Gatsby emphasizes the problems facing any individual’s rigorous work without reward. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald comments on the flaws of American ideals through allegorical characters. Tom Buchanan accurately portrays†¦show more content†¦Her promiscuous ways give her a fraudulent character. Jordan, â€Å"...was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (58). Her dishonesty and refusal to be lower than others shows what can result from having everything one may want. When Jordan cheated in golf, she cheated in life; her constant privilege stemming from her wealth causes her to deceive others to get her way. While a professional golfer like herself should be a role model, she conveys the impression that unfair behavior will result in a positive outcome. Jordan’s dishonest ways plague her character with the idea that lying is the only pathway to success, even if one may already have everything. Daisy Buchanan illustrates the greed within the American Dream. She is obsessed with consistently maintaining her old money, and refuses to ever have less than others. Daisy craves financial stability, and will jeopardize anything she has just to reassure herself of a secure position. â€Å"‘She’s got an indiscreet voice,’ I remarked. ‘It’s full of-’ I hesitated. ‘Her voice is full of money,’ he said sud denly† (120). Daisy’s obsession with money has lead her to not only physically have it, but being consumed by it. Her prioritization of wealth is evident in her actions and decisions. Daisy carelessly risks love just to ensure her social class and wealth, leading to Gatsby’s ultimate downfall. She greedily risks other’s feelings and well beingsShow MoreRelatedEffects Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1598 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Dream is defined as: the belief that through hard work and thrift, all Americans can improve their social status and achieve success. The Great Gatsby is full of the loss and hope of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby is living in his own dream while reality is right around the corner. In the book The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is trying to live his â€Å"American Dream† but really he is not living for himself. Gatsby’s American Dream consists of; buying rich things, makingRead More Effects Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1306 Words   |  6 Pagesliving the American dream of success, freedom, and happiness if they work hard enough. However, the way to obtain such dream is different for every person. Each individuals social class, beliefs, and views in life determine the way they will achieve the American dream. Sometimes the way a person goes about obtaining their dream does more harm than good. The Great Gatsby is a novel that shows what happened to the American Dream in the 1920’s, which is a day and age when the dream wound up corruptedRead MoreThe Effect Parallelism Has on the American Dream in The Great Gatsby1811 Words   |  8 PagesThe Effect Parallelism Has on the American Dream in The Great Gatsby Throughout the years, many historical references have been made with regards to the ‘American Dream’. 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However, the dream progressively transformed into greedinessRead MoreEssay about Great Gatsby862 Words   |  4 PagesScott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby / Gatsbys Desire for Daisy exploring why Gatsby had such an obsessive desire for Daisy. The writer purports that Gatsby began by pursuing an ideal, not the real woman. In fact, he could not recognize the type of person she had become since they last saw each other. Gatsby lives in a dream world and Daisy is part of that dream. As the novel progresses, however, Gatsbys feelings change. Bibliography lists Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby : The Role of NickRead MoreThe Decay of American Dream in The Great Gatsby1289 Words   |  6 Pagesof American Dream in The Great Gatsby The American Dream is a worldwide known idiom and it emphasizes an ideal of a successful and happy lifestyle which is oftentimes symbolized by the phrase â€Å"from rags-to-riches†. It originated out of the ideal of equality, freedom and opportunity that is held to every American. In the last couple of decades the main idea of the American Dream has shifted to becoming a dream in which materialistic values are of a higher importance and status. The Great GatsbyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald915 Words   |  4 PagesScott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, there was a common belief that anyone could achieve wealth no matter their past or current social status. This idea has come to be known as The American Dream. The Great Gatsby revolves around Gatsby and his love for Daisy. Gatsby falls for Daisy because she is his ticket to the wealth and success that The American Dream foretells. He ignores all her flaws and is willing to do anything for her just because she is wealthy. The Great Gatsby’s focus seems to beRead MoreAmerican Dream In The Great Gatsby Essay921 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Great Gatsby† by F. 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