Gatsby and the Complexity of the American Dream - 4080 Words

Gatsby and the Complexity of the American Dream F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is an exploration of the American dream in modern society, in which money and prosperity are significant factors and it may not be as simple as you think; and the movie Citizen Kane is another example of the complex issues relating to the American dream. First, we will explore the American dream, in which it is to make a great deal of money because it provides for a comfortable living, and characters in the novel reflect upon this very ideal. Second, achieving the American dream of wealth is perceived to bring happiness, but that is not always the case as will examine the dream relating to the characters in the novel. Third, we will explore the†¦show more content†¦If Gatsby did not have the wealth, Daisy would have never given him the time of the day that she has. By having money, it changes your entire life, social status, and the ability to have almost anything you want. Gatsby throws weekly parties at his house with spec tacular decorations, entertainments, and world class cuisines. People don’t even know who Gatsby is, but they attend his parties because of the apparent wealth this man has to show. Everybody wants to be apart of the popular and wealthy crowd. He wanted to be accepted into the high society and these parties are a way to build his status. As shallow as it sounds, the novel seems to talk about people judging a book by its cover. In other words, the American dream to the characters in the novel is how wealthy and how much money one has. The characters in the novel reflect the very ideal of what most people perceives as the American dream, and that is the amount of money that one has. Jay Gatsby is a man who grew up with no money, but gained an enormous amount of wealth. He accomplished what most people dream of having, a life of luxury, but his only draw back is that he thought money can buy happiness. Tom Buchanan grew up with money and is a pretentious rich boy. He i s living the American dream of wealth and fortune. It is his money that attracts women to his side, such as his wife Daisy and his mistress Myrtle. Tom can get almost anything he wants simplyShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1170 Words   |  5 Pages The Great Gatsby â€Å"The Great Gatsby† By F. Scott Fitzgerald is the tale of the glamorous lifestyle of the 1920s. Following World War I, America entered the roaring economic boom called the â€Å"roaring twenties.† The novel follows the life of Jay Gatsby through the eyes of his friend, and narrator, Nick Carraway. The American dream is based on living well, and earning money. Michael Schudson from Oxford University American Literary History describes the American dream as the idea â€Å"anyone, with hardRead MoreHow Does Wealth Or Societal Class Impact Our Personal Relationships?1360 Words   |  6 Pagespersonal relationships? 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