Dreams in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Differentiating between reality and dreams can be difficult in a world of wealth, lies, and alcoholism. The characters of The Great Gatsby seem to live the lives of Greek gods, believing that they are immortal and immune to the perils of common people. They party all day and all night, dressed in evening wear (as opposed to a work suit) sipping on expensive liquors. They have no sense of the lives led on the other side of town (or down Mt. Olympus). Living in a world of uncertainty, influenced by alcohol, distorted by wealth, distinguishing what could be and what really is can be difficult.

Jay Gatsby, taken in by a bittersweet fruit, drags himself through filth. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby becomes wealthy to achieve his American Dream, but he fails to achieve it because of the corruption and disillusioning effects of materialistic society.

Fitzgerald is writing a satire that comments on American ideal by showing the desire for wealth, the carelessness of the wealthy during the 1920s, and the attainment of a dream.

Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold colored tie hurried in? (89). Silver and gold

All humans have dreams and goals for their future that they wish to someday turn into reality. Dreams are different for every person, and some dreams are greater and grander than others, but they are all similar in that humans live for dreams because humans innately crave a better tomorrow. While many people do achieve their ultimate goals within their lifetimes, some people have unattainable dreams that are destined for failure. Two quintessential American novels, The Great Gatsby and the Catcher in the Rye, recount the stories of two hopeful young men with lofty plans, Jay Gatsby and Holden Caulfield. Both of these utopian young men possess impossible, unreachable dreams; Gatsby desires to rewind his life so that he may enjoy it with

Gatsby spent most of his youth working really hard to become rich, after Dan Cody had passed away. Gatsby deeply desired Daisy even after she was married. She was the reason behind the parties he was throwing every week. While Jordan and Nick where talking, Jordan says, “I think he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night but she never did” (Fitzgerald 77). Gatsby was spending enormous amount of money throwing parties every week just hoping that one day Daisy will pass by to see, but it never occurred. When Nick agrees to arrange a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy, Gatsby was so excited that he had a makeover to Nicks place. When Daisy finally meets Gatsby for the first after a long time, it was an awkward moment for both of them. Daisy out of nowhere says, “We haven’t met for many years” (Fitzgerald 84). Gatsby replies, “Five years next November” (Fitzgerald 84). It’s kind of fascinating that Gatsby even remembers when it’s going to be five years since they have met. He desire’s Daisy so much that he even remembers the days that he hadn’t met her. Gatsby became rich so that he can win Daisy back. That was his only desire. Living lavish lifestyles, throwing parties just to get noticed by Daisy which sadly never occurs until the meeting. This creates compassion for Gatsby

Gatsby and Daisy used to be together up until the point where he left for the war. Daisy waited for him until Tom along came and snatched her away. Daisy is a character who puts high importance on the wealth of her spouse which is why she left Gatsby for Tom in the first place. “Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’(Fitzgerald 106). Gatsby does not realize the motive behind Daisy’s actions and continues to dwell in the past. Tom "bought" Daisy for an expensive necklace worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Gatsby was poor in his youth but now that he is one of the wealthiest people in West Egg and a symbol of "new money", Daisy wants to be with him again. “ Tom may be insensitive to people, but Gatsby hardly seems to be aware that anyone other than Daisy exists.” (Wasiolek 15). Gatsby is not great because he does not realize the shallow and selfish behaviour of Daisy. Gatsby lost her to Tom because of his money, and money is the exact strategy that Gatsby uses to get her back. “I want you and Daisy to come over to my house,’ he said, ‘I’d like to show her around.” (Fitzgerald 87). Daisy becomes interested in Gatsby again once he shows her around his lavish mansion and shows her how wealthy he is now. Gatsby’s greatness is once again put into question as he is blinded by the past and cannot see the huge flaws in Daisy’s

When Nick is visiting Gatsby, one day, Nick states, “There must have been moments when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams—not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.” (Fitzgerald 95) This shows that even Nick, recognizes that Gatsby idealized Daisy and saw her as perfection. This idealization of Daisy goes on and leads Jay Gatsby to become very materialistic in order to woo and try to get Daisy to love him. For example, when Daisy comes to visit Gatsby, he wears “a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie” (Fitzgerald 84) to try and get her attention and to impress her with how many things he has that only the affluent can afford. As he is in this pointless pursuit of Daisy, he completely ignores how she really acts and what her true personality is like. All that Gatsby sees, is perfection even though Daisy is really corrupt and selfish. Gatsby is completely blinded by his love for Daisy that he forgets that Daisy is already married to Tom Buchanan and even has a child. This idealization of Daisy as the perfect wife is Gatsby’s tragic flaw and later, leads him to his own

As people go through difficult experiences their character starts to change. Characters can grow or they can start to lose what they have gained following misguided dreams. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, Gatsby fate seems clouded,but gradually the sun starts to look out through the clouds giving a bit of hope before the storm hits.

"You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock"( Fitzgerald 61). Gatsby has treats and tea specifically brought over to Nick's house for his meeting with Daisy. He arranged a neutral meeting point at Nick's on purpose. After given a few minutes alone. Gatsby uses material items to impress . Daisy comes from old money. She doesn't mean to, that was just her lot in life. Gatsby changed his whole life so he could make the kind of money that fits her social class. When Daisy goes to Gatsby's house we see his shirts and cleaned mansion he uses to impress her. Gatsby abandons other for her favor. Gatsby let go of his entire staff lest they might talk about his relationship with Daisy as she came over frequently. This demonstrates respect for her risk because she was still in a marriage to another man, but it also demonstrates extreme sacrifice.

Everyone has dreams of being successful in life. When the word American comes to mind one often thinks of the land of opportunity. This dream was apparent with the first settlers, and it is apparent in today’s society. In F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925), he illustrates the challenges and tragedies associated with the American dream. By examining Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson through the narrator Nick Carraway, I understand the complex nature of the American dream. Jay Gatsby represents the cost complex of them all.

It was at this point that he realized if he wanted Daisy he would have to make his lies become reality. Consequently, Gatsby became a bootlegger and made his millions by scamming others and finding loopholes in the laws. This is all done for Daisy, he more than likely would have never done this if he had never met and “fallen in love” with her. Even after gathering all of his wealth Gatsby needed more so he began throwing extravagant parties in hope that Daisy would come to one. These parties represent the immoral ways of the 1920’s with alcohol and adultery. Gatsby tries his best to stay detached from the people who go to his parties and to keep his cool and calm persona alive. This life of lies causes Gatsby much distress throughout his life. Gatsby gave up looking for his own happiness in hope that Daisy would love him which he believed would make him happy. This would have been alright if Gatsby had not expected so much from Daisy. He placed her on a pedestal that she would never be able to live up to. Nick even warns Gatsby “ ‘I wouldn't ask too much of her’, I ventured. ‘You can't repeat the past.’” (Fitzgerald

Nick believes Gatsby “[pays] a high price for living too long with a single dream" (?). However, while Gatsby’s attempts to court Daisy are naïve and misguided, they are also sentimental, and lack malice. As such, Gatsby’s decadent lifestyle and dubious background are ostensibly redeemed by his noble intentions, particularly his sacrifice in dying for Daisy. Nevertheless, Gatsby’s absence of self-awareness or emotional progress indicate a lack of redemption. The fact that, barring Nick, “no one was interested” in taking posthumous responsibility for Gatsby demonstrates this. Despite being continually surrounded at his parties while alive, Gatsby is

Gatsby: Kind, wealthy, and lonely, Gatsby throws, but doesn’t attend, extravagant parties in hope his young love, Daisy, will attend. He doesn’t have any real friends until Nick moves in next door to him. Obsessed with Daisy, he befriends Nick to help rekindle their past relationship. Gatsby comes from humble beginnings and wasn’t born into a wealthy family. Tom looks down on Gatsby for this reason and becomes specious of how he made his wealth and encountered Daisy. Because of his wealthy status, Gatsby believes Daisy will leave Tom for him. When Gatsby says, “Just tell him the truth— that you never loved him— and it’s all wiped out forever” (132), she initially gives in and tells Tom this. This is Daisy’s response not because it’s true, but

One of his companions and business partners Meyer Wolfshiem told Nick “Yeah, Gatsby’s very careful about women. He would never so much as look at a friend’s wife.” trying to convince Nick that Gatsby’s story was true, that was, in fact, a respectable man from an educated and wealthy family when in reality he was quite the opposite (pg 78). Gatsby spent so much time and effort building his character and using other people, such as Nick, to get close to Daisy without seeing what the reader could; it was all pointless. Gatsby’s entire character was for show, everything he did was for Daisy, the money, the house, the car, the parties, everything. He could have had anything and any other girl but he kept chasing Daisy, who was married, without realizing she had already slipped from his grasp; their fling was all in the past. In the end, Gatsby is dead and none of the hundreds of people that poured into his house on the weekends showed up at his funeral. All those people were pawns in Gatsby’s game by spreading rumors about how he got his money a curtain of mystery was created around him. When the curtain fell it turned out none of them actually cared about him, they all were taking advantage of his generosity and riches. Following Gatsby’s death the glamor of the big city and its people wore off for Nick “After Gatsby’s death the East was haunted for me” (pg 188), the things that before had inspired and excited him now left him sick.