preview

What Is The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Decent Essays

The definition of the American Dream is something that is defined by a person, and in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s case the American Dream is defined as unreal. Fitzgerald’s lived in the roaring twenties and the time of the party and fun, and the time that caused the stock market crash and depression. The pessimistic thought process of Fitzgerald rubs off on his novel, The Great Gatsby, a story entangled with love triangles, drama, and death. In the novel The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald’s poor life leads to his belief that the American Dream is not achievable, as seen through the literary devices of Characterization of Jay Gatsby, Nick carraway, and Myrtle Wilson. Throughout the novel, the use of characterization is used heavily by Fitzgerald. Focusing on Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the development of his character to show that despite the work and effort you put into it, your American Dream will not be achieved. James Gatz worked his whole life, becoming a rich and powerful man, and although he had everything it seemed someone could want, he did not have Daisy. After one of His infamous Parties, Nick tells us, ‘He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say “I never loved you.”’ (116). This quote establishes his American Dream, to be with Daisy completely, ever since Daisy and Gatsby fell helplessly in love at a young age. Gatsby’s American Dream will never happen though, because Daisy meets another man named Tom Buchanan, while Gatsby is in war, and Daisy will pick Tom over Gatsby towards the end of the book, as seen when Daisy says, “Please Tom I can’t stand this anymore”(142).This quote shows that, despite the fact that Daisy decides to be with Tom, Gatsby does not lose hope. On page 159, Gatsby says, “I don’t think she ever loved him. You must remember, old sport, she was very excited this afternoon. He told her those things in a way that frightened her-- that made it look as if I was some kind of cheap sharper. And the result she hardly knew what she was saying.” The development of Gatsby depicts fitzgerald’s viewpoint because it exemplifies the fact that despite Gatsby’s hope and effort, he never was able to reach his American Dream before dying, depicting

Get Access