preview

Corrupted American Dream in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Best Essays

After World War I ended, America appeared to be a promise land of opportunities for people who are willing to work for it. However, for some, it corrupted them as they set to reach the American dream by acquiring wealth for the only purpose to pursue pleasure. The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald showing that no one is unaffected by the corruption. This novel is seen through the eyes of Nick Carraway, who moves from the mid-west to west-egg to chase his American dream. He observes the people and events around him as he follows the attempts of his neighbor Jay Gatsby, to gain back Daisy Buchanan’s love. Through the novel, characters appear to enjoy the freedom of the 1920s, but it comes to an end as characters are …show more content…

Tom Buchanan, the rich upper class man is seem to mock and manipulate George with his power as he holds back his cars for sale.
‘When are you going to sell me that car?’ ‘Next week; I’ve got my man working on it now.’ ‘Works pretty slow, don’t he?’ ‘No, he doesn’t,’ said Tom coldly. ‘And if you feel that way about it, maybe I’d better sell it somewhere else after all.’ ‘I don’t mean that,’ explained Wilson quickly. (25)
Through this scene, we see that George will try to do anything in his ability to have the car. As Tom has the material wealth that George does not have, it gives Tom the power to control him. While George is constantly working hard and relying on the wealthy people, Tom for one to use this power and dictates him throughout the novel. Fitzgerald is illustrating the inequality between classes and the authority that the rich has over the lower classes. He shows that not all hardworking men and women that are wanting to gain respect and climb high on the ladder to reach the American dream will be able to do so. People are being endlessly controlled by the upper class thus giving them no chance to have class mobility. Thus this becomes the reason leading George Wilson to have a miserable life and resulting to killing himself. Another person that was a victim to the corruption of the American dream is Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle’s way of thinking is the complete opposite of her husband’s idea and the way to approach the illusion of the

Get Access