great gatsby and the american dream essay

The Great Gatsby

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The American Dream—that hard work can lead one from rags to riches—has been a core facet of American identity since its inception. Settlers came west to America from Europe seeking wealth and freedom. The pioneers headed west for the same reason. The Great Gatsby shows the tide turning east, as hordes flock to New York City seeking stock market fortunes. The Great Gatsby portrays this shift as a symbol of the American Dream's corruption. It's no longer a vision of building a life; it's just about getting rich.

Gatsby symbolizes both the corrupted Dream and the original uncorrupted Dream. He sees wealth as the solution to his problems, pursues money via shady schemes, and reinvents himself so much that he becomes hollow, disconnected from his past. Yet Gatsby's corrupt dream of wealth is motivated by an incorruptible love for Daisy . Gatsby's failure does not prove the folly of the American Dream—rather it proves the folly of short-cutting that dream by allowing corruption and materialism to prevail over hard work, integrity, and real love. And the dream of love that remains at Gatsby's core condemns nearly every other character in the novel, all of whom are empty beyond just their lust for money.

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Need to write about a theme for a Great Gatsby assignment or just curious about what exactly a theme is? Not sure where to start? Learn here what a theme is, what the main themes in The Great Gatsby are, and what the best tips for writing about themes for your English/Language Arts class essays are.

We will also link to our specific articles on each theme so you can learn even more in-depth about themes central to Gatsby .

What Is a Theme? Why Should You Care?

First things first: what exactly is a theme? In literature, a theme is a central topic a book deals with. This central topic is revealed through plot events, the actions and dialogue of the characters, and even the narrator's tone. Themes can be very broad, like love, money, or death, or more specific, like people versus technology, racial discrimination, or the American Dream.

In short, a book's theme can usually answer the question, "what's the point of this book?". They're the "so what?" of literary analysis. Also, note that books can definitely have more than one major theme —in Gatsby we identify seven!

Knowing a book's major theme(s) is crucial to writing essays, since many assignments want you to connect your argument to a book's theme. For example, you might be asked to write an essay about a prompt like this: "How does the life of Jay Gatsby exemplify (or deconstruct) the idea of the American Dream?" This prompt has you connect specific details in Jay Gatsby's life to the larger theme of the American Dream. This is why many teachers love theme essays: because they encourage you to connect small details to big ideas!

Furthermore, the AP English Literature test always has an essay question that has you analyze some aspect of a book and then "compare it to the theme of the work as a whole." (If you want specific examples you can access the last 15 years of AP English Literature free response questions here , using your College Board account.) So this skill won't just help you in your English classes, it will also help you pass the AP English Literature test if you're taking it!

So keep reading to learn about the major themes in Gatsby and how they are revealed in the book, and also to get links to our in-depth articles about each theme.

Overview of Key Themes in The Great Gatsby

Before we introduce our seven main themes, we'll briefly describe how the story and characters suggest the major Great Gatsby themes. Remember that the story is set in the 1920s, a period when America's economy was booming, and takes place in New York: specifically the wealthy Long Island towns of West Egg and East Egg, as well as Manhattan and Queens.

As you should know from the book ( check out our summary if you're still hazy on the details!), The Great Gatsby tells the story of James Gatz , a poor farm boy who manages to reinvent himself as the fabulously rich Jay Gatsby, only to be killed after an attempt to win over his old love Daisy Buchanan . Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan , and they're both from old money, causing them to look down Gatsby's newly rich crowd (and for Tom to look down at Gatsby himself).

Meanwhile, Tom is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson , the wife of mechanic George Wilson . Through the Wilsons, we see the struggles of the working class in dismal Queens , NY. As if they didn't already have it hard enough, Myrtle is killed in a hit-and-run accident (caused by Daisy Buchanan), and George, who's manipulated by Tom to believe that Jay Gatsby was both his wife's lover and her murderer, ends up shooting Gatsby and then himself.

The whole story is told by Nick Carraway , a second cousin of Daisy's and classmate of Tom's who moves in next to Gatsby's mansion and eventually befriends Jay -- and then comes to deeply admire him, despite or perhaps because of Jay's fervent desire to repeat his past with Daisy. The tragic chain of events at the novel's climax, along with the fact that both the Buchanans can easily retreat from the damage they caused, causes Nick to become disillusioned with life in New York and retreat back to his hometown in the Midwest.

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Aside from having a very unhappy ending, the novel might just ruin swimming pools for you as well.

The fact that the major characters come from three distinct class backgrounds (working class, newly rich, and old money) suggests that class is a major theme. But the rampant materialism and the sheer amount of money spent by Gatsby himself is a huge issue and its own theme. Related to money and class, the fact that both Gatsby and the Wilsons strive to improve their positions in American society, only to end up dead, also suggests that the American Dream -- and specifically its hollowness -- is a key theme in the book as well.

But there are other themes at play here, too. Every major character is involved in at least one romantic relationship , revealing that they are all driven by love, sex, and desire -- a major theme. Also, the rampant bad behavior (crime, cheating, and finally murder) and lack of real justice makes ethics and morality a key theme. Death also looms large over the novel's plot, alongside the threat of failure.

And finally, a strong undercurrent to all of these themes is identity itself: can James Gatz really become Jay Gatsby, or was he doomed from the start? Can someone who is not from old money ever blend in with that crowd? Could Gatsby really aspire to repeat his past with Daisy, or is that past self gone forever?

In short, just by looking at the novel's plot, characters, and ending, we can already get a strong sense of Gatsby's major themes. Let's now look at each of those themes one by one (and be sure to check out the links to our full theme breakdowns!).

The 7 Major Great Gatsby Themes

Money and Materialism : Everyone in the novel is money-obsessed, whether they were born with money (Tom, Daisy, Jordan, and Nick to a lesser extent), whether they made a fortune (Gatsby), or whether they're eager for more (Myrtle and George). So why are the characters so materialistic? How does their materialism affect their choices? Get a guide to each of the characters' material motivations and how they shape the novel.

Society and Class: Building on the money and materialism theme, the novel draws clear distinctions between the kind of money you have: old money (inherited) or new money (earned). And there is also a clear difference between the lifestyles of the wealthy, who live on Long Island and commute freely to Manhattan, and the working class people stuck in between, mired in Queens. By the end of the novel, our main characters who are not old money (Gatsby, Myrtle, and George) are all dead, while the inherited-money club is still alive. What does this say about class in Gatsby? Why is their society so rigidly classist? Learn more about the various social classes in Gatsby and how they affect the novel's outcome.

The American Dream : The American Dream is the idea anyone can make it in America (e.g. gain fame, fortune, and success) through enough hard work and determination. So is Jay Gatsby an example of the dream? Or does his involvement in crime suggest the Dream isn't actually real? And where does this leave the Wilsons, who are also eager to improve their lot in life but don't make it out of the novel alive? Finally, do the closing pages of the novel endorse the American Dream or write it off as a fantasy? Learn what the American Dream is and how the novel sometimes believes in it, and sometimes sees it as a reckless fantasy.

Love, Desire, and Relationships : All of the major characters are driven by love, desire, or both, but only Tom and Daisy's marriage lasts out of the novel's five major relationships and affairs. So is love an inherently unstable force? Or do the characters just experience it in the wrong way? Get an in-depth guide to each of Gatsby's major relationships.

Death and Failure: Nick narrates Gatsby two years after the events in question, and since he's obviously aware of the tragedy awaiting not only Gatsby but Myrtle and George as well, the novel has a sad, reflective, even mournful tone. Is the novel saying that ambition is inherently dangerous (especially in a classist society like 1920s America), or is it more concerned with the danger of Gatsby's intense desire to reclaim the past? Explore those questions here.

Morality and Ethics: The novel is full of bad behavior: lying, cheating, physical abuse, crime, and finally murder. Yet none of the characters ever answer to the law, and God is only mentioned as an exclamation, or briefly projected onto an advertisement . Does the novel push for the need to fix this lack of morality, or does it accept it as the normal state of affairs in the "wild, wild East"?

The Mutability of Identity: Mutability just means "subject to change," so this theme is about how changeable (or not!) personal identity is. Do people really change? Or are our past selves always with us? And how would this shape our desire to reclaim parts of our past? Gatsby wants to have it both ways: to change himself from James Gatz into the sophisticated, wealthy Jay Gatsby, but also to preserve his past with Daisy. Does he fail because it's impossible to change? Because it's impossible to repeat the past? Or both?

How to Write About The Great Gatsby Themes

So now that you know about the major themes of The Great Gatsby , how can you go about writing about them? First up: look closely at your prompt.

Sometimes an essay prompt will come right out and ask you to write about a theme , for example "is The American Dream in Gatsby alive or dead?" or "Write about the relationships in Gatsby. What is the novel saying about the nature of love and desire?" For those essays, you will obviously be writing about one of the novel's major themes. But even though those prompts have big-picture questions, make sure to find small supporting details to help make your argument.

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For example, if you're discussing the American Dream and arguing it's dead in the novel, don't just make that claim and be done with it. Instead, you can explore Gatsby's past as James Gatz, George Wilson's exhausted complacency, and Myrtle's treatment at the hands of Tom as examples of how the American Dream is treated in the novel. Obviously those examples are far from exhaustive, but hopefully you get the idea: find smaller details to support the larger argument.

On the other hand, many essay prompts about Gatsby will look like a question about something specific, like a character or symbol:

  • Explore Tom and Daisy as people who 'retreat into their money.'
  • What does the green light at the end of Daisy's dock represent? How does its meaning change throughout the novel?
  • Show how Fitzgerald uses clothing (and the changing of costumes) to tell the reader more about the characters and/or express theme(s).

These prompts are actually a chance for you to take that detailed analysis and connect it to one of the larger themes—in other words, even though the prompt doesn't state it explicitly, you should still be connecting those more focused topics to one of the big-picture themes.

For example, if you talk about Tom and Daisy Buchanan, you will definitely end up talking about society and class. If you talk about the green light, you will end up talking about dreams and goals, specifically the American Dream. And if you discuss clothing to talk about the characters, you will definitely touch on money and materialism, as well as society and class (like how Gatsby's pink suit makes him stand out as new money to Tom Buchanan, or how Myrtle adopts a different dress to play at being wealthy and sophisticated).

In short, for these more specific prompts, you start from the ground (small details and observations) and build up to discussing the larger themes, even if the prompt doesn't say to do so explicitly!

What's Next?

Now you're an expert on themes, but what about symbols? If you need to write about the important symbols in The Great Gatsby, check out our symbols overview for a complete guide.

Want a full analysis of Jay Gatsby and his backstory? Not sure how his story connects with the American Dream? Get the details here .

Want to go back to square one? Get started with Chapter 1 of our Great Gatsby plot summary.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?   We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

Halle Edwards graduated from Stanford University with honors. In high school, she earned 99th percentile ACT scores as well as 99th percentile scores on SAT subject tests. She also took nine AP classes, earning a perfect score of 5 on seven AP tests. As a graduate of a large public high school who tackled the college admission process largely on her own, she is passionate about helping high school students from different backgrounds get the knowledge they need to be successful in the college admissions process.

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Great Gatsby Essay: The Pursuit of the American Dream

  • Great Gatsby Essay: The Pursuit…

A major theme in The Great Gatsby is the pursuit of what can be termed the American dream. Do you agree? By choosing a major character or a situation in Fitzgerald’s novel, discuss how or whether Fitzgerald is successful in exposing the underside of the American dream)

This represents the idea of the American Dream, where qualities of hard work and ambition are shown. The novel The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald embodies many themes; however, the most significant one relates to the corruption of the American dream.

The American Dream is defined as someone starting low on the economic or social level, and working hard towards prosperity and or wealth and fame. By having money, a car, a big house, nice clothes, and a happy family symbolizes the American dream. This dream also represents that people, no matter who he or she is, can become successful in life by his or her own work.

The desire to strive for what one wants can be accomplished if they work hard enough. The dream is represented by the idea of a self-sufficient man or woman, who works hard to achieve a goal to become successful. The Great Gatsby is a novel that shows what happened to the American Dream in the 1920’s, which is a time period when the dreams became corrupted for many reasons.

The American dream not only causes corruption but has caused destruction. Myrtle, Gatsby and Daisy have all been corrupted and destroyed by the dream.

The desire for a luxurious life is what lures Myrtle into having an affair with Tom. This decision harms her marriage with George, which leads to her death and loss of true happiness. Myrtle has the hope and desire for a perfect, wealthy and famous type of life.  She enjoys reading gossip magazines which represent her hope for the life of “the rich and famous”.

This shows how the one reason she wants to be with Tom, is because he represents the life of “the rich and famous”. When Myrtle first got married to George Wilson, she thought that she was crazy about him and thought that they were happy being together. Myrtle says, “The only crazy I was was when I married him. I knew right away I made a mistake.

He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in, and never told me about it, and the man came after it one day when he was out…” (Fitzgerald, 37) This shows how materialistic Myrtle is, and that she didn’t appreciate how George couldn’t afford his own suit to get married in. She looks at Tom in a different way. She looks at him as someone who can afford to buy their own suit for their own wedding. Myrtle is attracted to not only Tom’s appearance but his money as well.

She believes that Tom is the ideal picture-perfect man that represents the advertisement of the American Dream. Myrtle is considered to be lower class, as she doesn’t have a lot of money. Myrtle sleeps with Tom to inch her way to an upper-class status. People who are upper class are the ones that have money, drive fancy cars, and have nice big houses. Myrtle isn’t one of those people but desires to be one of them. This, later on, causes destruction and destroys Myrtle.

It was later found that Daisy was the one that hit Myrtle with her car which resulted in the death of Myrtle. It is ironic that Daisy was the one that killed her, since Myrtle was having an affair with her husband, Tom. This shows how the desire for a luxurious life and having the American dream, only caused destruction in this novel and destroyed someone’s life.

The hope for happiness is something that Daisy hoped to have, but finding out she married the wrong man changed who she is and her outlook on life. Early on in the novel, Daisy finds out a secret that Tom is hiding from her. Jordan says, “She might have the decency not to telephone him a dinner time.

Don’t you think?” (Fitzgerald, 20) Tom got a call from some women at dinner time, and Jordan claims that the woman is Tom’s, suggesting that he is sleeping with someone else. You learn throughout the novel that Tom and Daisy’s relationship is not to most ideal, happy relationship. Tom seems to be abusive towards her and rather does not seem to care much about her. Daisy thinks she has everything, wealth, love, and happiness which all tie into the American dream, but then she discovers that she has nothing and that she has been corrupted by this specific dream.

She thought she has all she desired but truly realized she had nothing. She has a child, who does not seem important to her at all. The child is never around, which shows a lot about Daisy. When her child was born, Daisy said “I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful fool.” (Fitzgerald, 22)

Daisy basically explained that there are limited possibilities for women, and she would have rather had a boy. The baby has to be a beautiful fool in order to be happy and successful. Woman back in the 1920’s all married for money, and not necessarily love. Daisy thought she had loved when she married Tom, but truly in the long run, only came out with money.

With Gatsby, Daisy realized something that broke her heart. When reunited with Gatsby, who she has not seen in about five years Daisy breaks down and starts to cry. “They’re such beautiful shirts, it makes me sad because I’ve never seen such – such beautiful shirts before.” (Fitzgerald, 89) At this time Daisy realizes that she did marry for money and not for love.

She figures out that she could have married for money with Gatsby but would have had love too. The chase for the American dream and the ideal man to be with destroyed Daisy’s happiness.

The ambition for something has thrown Gatsby over the edge. His love and chase for Daisy have taken over his whole life. He feels that he has to live up to the American dream to accomplish what he truly dreams for, which is Daisy. While Gatsby was away fighting in the war, Daisy met Tom and married him.

Daisy had always been rich and Gatsby thought that in order to get Daisy back, he needs to have money so that he would be able to give Daisy anything she wanted. There was a green light where Daisy lived that Gatsby would always look out for.

The green light is of great significance in this novel. It becomes evident that this green light is not Daisy, but a symbol representing Gatsby’s dream of having Daisy. The fact that Daisy falls short of Gatsby’s expectations is obvious. Knowing this, one can see that no matter how hard Gatsby tries to live his fantasy, he will never be able to achieve it.

Through close examination of the green light, one may learn that the force that empowers Gatsby to follow his lifelong aspiration is that of the American Dream. Fitzgerald uses the green light as a symbol of hope, money, and jealousy.  Gatsby looks up to the American dream and follows it so he can be the picture-perfect man that every girl desires.

Gatsby cares a lot about how people see him, and his appearance towards others. He wants everything to look perfect for Daisy, as he wants Daisy to view him as a perfect man. “We both looked down at the grass – there was a sharp line where my ragged lawn ended and the darker, well-kept expanse of his began. I suspected he meant my grass.” (Fitzgerald, 80)

This presents the theme of appearance vs. reality and how Gatsby wants everything to look nice and presentable when he meets up with Daisy for the first time in five years. Gatsby becomes corrupted because his main goal is to have Daisy. He needs to have an enormous mansion so he could feel confident enough to try and get Daisy. Gatsby was blinded by the American dream and as a result of this, cause the destruction of Gatsby himself. He didn’t end up getting what he wanted because the American dream took over who he truly was.

The American dream is a powerful dream that was significant in the novel The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. It was evident that this dream only truly caused corruption and destruction. The desire for something sometimes causes people to be someone they are not and this usually does not result in a positive outcome.

The American Dream is defined as someone starting low on the economic or social level, and working hard towards prosperity and or wealth and fame. Most characters in the novel The Great Gatsby all wanted money, wealth, and happiness and would do anything in their power to get this.

The Great Gatsby is a novel that shows what happened to the American Dream in the 1920s, which is a time period when the dreams became corrupted. The American dream not only causes corruption but has caused destruction.

Myrtle, Gatsby, and Daisy have all been corrupted and destroyed by the dream and it was clear to be true. Money cannot buy you happiness which is something that the three characters in the novel The Great Gatsby truly did not realize.

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Author:  William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby” Essay

Introduction.

The movement towards equality and fair opportunity in America is reflected in various literary works. The 1920s, often regarded as the most prosperous years for the spread of the American dream, can also be considered prominent evidence towards the decline of the discussed idea and the social morals of that age. The possibilities provided by the concept and the claim for equal opportunity, although bearing positive intent, had also contributed to the decline of personal values. The novel The Great Gatsby , written by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, perfectly captures the decay of the principles of liberty and fair opportunity, demonstrating the change from individualism to monetary corruption through the main characters’ behavior.

Towards a Better Future: The Significance of Equal Opportunity

The Great Gatsby elaborates on the changes to the original notions of the American dream established after the First World War. Although the initial ideas behind this concept embraced equality and the possibility of happiness for each American citizen, these elements were altered tremendously in the 1920s. The availability of fair opportunity for everyone and the potential to acquire a better social status for lower classes have originated the search for easy wealth, corrupting social values and numerous individuals. Instead of seeking happiness or improving their communities, the characters of The Great Gatsby pursue the ideas of financial affluence and strive to achieve a better social status regardless of the immorality of their actions.

Fitzgerald elaborates on the negative changes in American society through the American dream. Carraway notes that “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry” (Fitzgerald 68). Thus, discovery and liberty are replaced by a desire for monetary wealth through any means possible. Poverty is now viewed condescendingly, and financial prosperity, rather than morality and personal integrity, are presumed one’s positive qualities. Gambling, bootlegging, and adultery, evident in the behavior of Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson, become the primary strategies to accomplishing the necessary goals, and the American dream itself becomes the symbol of corrupted social values.

The Illusions of the Past in the American Dream

Young Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the novel, is a manifestation of the accessibility of success for people who were not born into the upper class. Having personally established his affluent social and financial status, he can be considered a beacon of hope for those who desire to alter their standing. Nevertheless, as it becomes known that Gatsby had secured his profits through illegal means in an attempt to impress Daisy Buchanan, the beauty of his American dream starts to vanish (Fitzgerald 100). Through Gatsby, Fitzgerald explains how the American dream was initially supposed to symbolize success and equality but was later deformed, demonstrating the flaws of the society and its corruption.

The results of pursuing the American dream are also depicted in the work, evident in the behavior and attitudes of wealthy characters. The Buchanans, who have inherited their possessions, signify the outcomes of obsession with money and social status. Nick Carraway argues that “Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money of their vast carelessness […] and let other people clean up the mess they had made” (Fitzgerald 137). Even though the American dream should represent a better and happier life, in reality, it illustrates the decaying values of the upper class, who have no regard for individuals with lower social statuses.

Another aspect of the American dream, excellently depicted in the novel, is its glorification and inaccessibility. Throughout the story, Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson are highly enthusiastic about their future, which is marked by wealth and improved social status. Jay Gatsby is infatuated with the idea of Daisy from the earlier years, which is an illusion that is no longer true. In reality, the young woman is only interested in financial prosperity, and the future that Gatsby imagines is impossible. His desires are perfectly illustrated by the green light: “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter — tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther” (Fitzgerald 138). Incapable of realizing that his goals are unachievable, Gatsby is, in fact, using the American dream in an attempt to return to the past.

Similar to the young man, Myrtle also imagines a perfect future with Tom, failing to grasp his true intentions. From Myrtle’s perspective, there is a perfect opportunity for her to become a representative of the upper class. However, Myrtle’s future is nothing more than a dream inspired by the notions of equal possibility and wealth, as Tom has no interest in fulfilling her aim (Fitzgerald 118). Altogether, Jay and Myrtle’s constant pursuit disclose how fragile the American dream actually is and how heavily it impacted the society of the 1920s.

To conclude, the theme of the American dream and its significance in the novel The Great Gatsby was discussed thoroughly in this essay, elaborating on the corruption behind this idea evident in 1920s America. The alterations of social trends from the upheaval of individualism to financial greed have distorted the positive intentions behind the American dream. Through the concept of equal opportunity and the characters’ pursuit of financial affluence, the author portrays how morality and individualism, which initially represented this notion, were altered in favor of prosperity.

Fitzgerald, Francis Scott. The Great Gatsby . Scribner Book Company, 2004.

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IvyPanda. (2022, October 22). The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby”. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-corrupted-american-dream-and-its-significance-in-the-great-gatsby/

"The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby”." IvyPanda , 22 Oct. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/the-corrupted-american-dream-and-its-significance-in-the-great-gatsby/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby”'. 22 October.

IvyPanda . 2022. "The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby”." October 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-corrupted-american-dream-and-its-significance-in-the-great-gatsby/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby”." October 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-corrupted-american-dream-and-its-significance-in-the-great-gatsby/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby”." October 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-corrupted-american-dream-and-its-significance-in-the-great-gatsby/.

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The Great Gatsby

A great american dream jens shroyer.

The Great Gatsby and "Babylon Revisited," both by F. Scott Fitzgerald, are stories about the emptiness and recklessness of the 1920s. Each story has its distinctions, but Fitzgerald's condemnation of the decade reverberates through both. Fitzgerald explores and displays insufficiencies of the vacuous period, and does so with sharp clarity and depth, leaving no crude, barbarous habit to imagination. Fitzgerald had a deep and personal affliction with the 1920s (most notably in the Eastern United States), and in both The Great Gatsby and "Babylon Revisited," he hones his conflicts into a furious condemnation. The 1920s were a period of sloth, habitual sin, exhausted illustriousness, and moral despondency; the black mark of a society and world usually tilted more toward attempted civility. Fitzgerald conveys this theme through the use of character, symbolism, and wasteland imagery.

First, Fitzgerald uses characters to personify the vast recklessness of the generation. The characters in both are incomprehensibly selfish and carefree, though more noticeably in The Great Gatsby. Tom Buchanan, for instance, is almost flippant in acknowledging his affair with Jordan Baker, a local miscreant golf pro. Tom leaves...

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great gatsby and the american dream essay

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Essay: Analysis of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby

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Many people believe that money is the answer to all problems, that money equals happiness. The American Dream, to start with nothing and through hard work and determination achieve wealth and happiness. This is evident in the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Jay Gatsby certainly believes in the American Dream and that wealth can buy him happiness. Gatsby looks up to the American dream and follows it so he can be the picture perfect man that every girl desires. He runs into trouble when his plan is spoiled while falling in love with a wealthy girl named Daisy. Gatsby was however not wealthy and could not acquire Daisey while being poor. Gatsby would then pursue wealth to revive his relationship with Daisy. Fitzgerald critiques the American Dream by showing Gatsby’s fatal flaw, throughout the novel there are many symbols that show Gatsby’s love for Daisy and how he thinks his wealth and status will attract her back. Gatsby’s home really shows his love for her with his over the top approach. Everything from decorations, clothes, location, and parties are all directed towards Daisy in hope he will gain her back through his status. Gatsby is an example of what the Amercian Dream represents (Hearne) through the people’s view. Although it may seem like Gatsby has it all, his real desire is to win back the girl he loves, Daisy. Through Fitzgerald’s eyes the American Dream is unattainable. Even though they become close, none of the characters in Fitzgerald’s book achieve their American Dream. In “The Great Gatsby”, there are many different types of symbolism shown in the book. One author states that most of Fitzgerald’s plot was “achieved through motif and symbol” (Barbarese). As a symbol, the green light provides Gatsby with hope in reviving his relationship with Daisy as she lives just across the bay. “Gatsby believed in the green light” (Fitzgerald 189) giving us an example how Gatsby believes his American Dream is still attainable with Daisey. The main theme for people in east and west egg is how they are seen, they are very materialistic. “Striving for wealth has become a way for Americans to ease their consciences, while one’s morality is often measured by the ability to acquire material possessions” (Pidgeon). It is shown in the book when Benny McClenahan “always arrived with four girls,” (Fitzgerald 67). The Great Gatsby is regarded as a brilliant piece of social commentary. Fitzgerald carefully sets up his novel into distinct groups but in the end each group has its own problems to contend with. Leaving a powerful reminder of what a precarious place the world really is. By creating social classes old money, new money, and no money Fitzgerald sends strong messages about the characters running throughout every strata of society. The first and most obvious group Fitzgerald attacks is the rich. However, for Fitzgerald placing the rich all in one group together would be a bad idea. The rich seem to be unified by their money, but they are actually split up into two different groups of rich people. There is old money and there is new money. Gatsby is part of “new money” it shows that he doesn’t know how to handle money when he “bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay,” (Fitzgerald 83). However, Fitzgerald reveals this is not the case. In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald presents the two distinct types of wealthy people. First, there are people like the Buchanans and Jordan Baker who were born into wealth. Their families have had money for many generations, hence they are “old money.” As portrayed in the novel, the “old money” people don’t have to work and they spend their time amusing themselves. Daisy, Tom, Jordan, and the distinct social class they represent are perhaps the story’s most elitist group, imposing distinctions on the other people of wealth based not so much on how much money one has but where that money came from and when it was acquired. For the “old money” people the fact that Gatsby has only just recently acquired his money is reason enough to dislike him. In their way of thinking, he can’t possibly have the same taste they have. Not only does he work for a living, but he comes from a low-class background which in their opinion means he cannot possibly be like them. In many ways the social elite are right. The “new money” people cannot be like them and in many ways that works in their favor those in society’s highest are not nice people at all. They are judgmental and superficial failing to look at the essence of the people around them. Instead they live their lives in such a way as to perpetuate their sense of superiority however unrealistic that may be. The people with newly acquired wealth though aren’t necessarily much better. Think of Gatsby’s partygoers. They attend his parties drink his liquor and eat his food never once taking the time to even meet their host. When Gatsby dies, all the people who frequented his house every week mysteriously became busy elsewhere abandoning Gatsby when he could no longer do anything for them. One would like to think the newly wealthy would be more sensitive to the world around them after all it was only recently they were without money and most doors were closed to them. As Fitzgerald shows however their concerns are largely living for the moment steeped in partying and other forms of excess. Just as he did with people of money Fitzgerald uses the people with no money to convey a strong message. Nick although he comes from a family with a bit of wealth doesn’t have nearly the capital of Gatsby or Tom. In the end though, he shows himself to be an honorable and principled man which is more than Tom exhibits. Myrtle though is another story, she comes from the middle class at best. She is trapped as are so many others in the valley of ashes and spends her days trying to make it out. In fact, her desire to move up the social hierarchy leads her to her affair with Tom and she is decidedly pleased with the arrangement. Because of the misery pervading her life Myrtle has distanced herself from her moral obligations and has no difficulty cheating on her husband when it means that she gets to lead the lifestyle she wants if only for a little while. What she doesn’t realize however is that Tom and his friends will never accept her into their circle. Myrtle is no more than a toy to Tom and to those he represents. Tom is living his American dream while he has Myrtle and Daisy at the same time. With the death of Myrtle, Tom cries as he loses a part of his American Dream. Fitzgerald has an eye and in The Great Gatsby presents a harsh picture of the world he sees around him. The 1920s marked a time of great post war economic growth and Fitzgerald captures the frenzy of the society well. Although of course Fitzgerald could have no way of foreseeing the stock market crash of 1929 the world he presents in The Great Gatsby seems clearly to be headed for disaster. They have assumed skewed worldviews mistakenly believing their survival lies in stratification and reinforcing social boundaries. They erroneously place their faith in superficial external means while neglecting to cultivate the compassion and sensitivity that in fact separate humans from the animals. The American Dream is now dying down, becoming more of a desire than an actual goal. “The pursuit of wealth came to have a meaning transcended the mere desire to be more comfortable” (Pidgeon). As people soon realized, “America has great potential and promise, but no guarantees” (Hearne). Many Americans have chased their dream, just like Tom, Myrtle, Gatsby and others in the book, only in the end to come up short. In some cases they do reach their goal, for instance Gatsby did work his way out of poverty just as he planned, but he wanted more. He needed to have Daisey to finish his dream. Tom needed Myrtle for his American dream consisting of multiple women. Ultimately, Fitzgerald never lets his characters fully grasps their American Dream.

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The Great Gatsby American Dream Essay, with Outline

Published by gudwriter on May 25, 2021 May 25, 2021

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Great Gatsby American Dream Essay Outline

Introduction .

Thesis: The American dream entails more than just garnering wealth, the ways of amassing wealth are similarly important. It is impossible to live the American dream without other aspects of life such as love, health, and happiness.

Paragraph 1:

Many people have the wrong perception of the American dream.

  • The American dream does not imply being wealthy.
  • It entails realizing one’s goals in life supplemented with happiness.
  • Living the American dream with materialistic things only is impossible.
  • The American dream can only be achieved through hard work.

Paragraph 2:

Knowledge is essential in realizing the American dream.

  • People in the 1920s did not know what the American dream entailed.
  • They believed being wealthy translated to living the American dream.
  • Gatsby, Myrtle, and Daisy failed to live the American dream due to lack of knowledge.

Paragraph 3:

The wrong factors motivate most people in search of the American dream.

  • Myrtle was driven by the desire to lead a wealthy and luxurious life.
  • These desires drove her to become Tom’s mistress, who devalued and mistreated her.

Paragraph 4:

Wealth, health and happiness define the American dream.

  • Myrtle’s life was devoid of happiness.
  • Her relationship with Tom, contributed to Daisy killing her.
  • The American dream requires one to rise from a poor background to riches through legal ways and hard work.

Paragraph 5:

To live the American dream one must set their priorities right.

  • Gatsby prioritized wealth over love and happiness.
  • Gatsby used illegal economic undertakings to amass wealth.
  • Unfulfilled desires drove his entire life.
  • His relationship with Daisy contributed to his death.

Paragraph 6:

Daisy Buchanan hails from Louisville in Kentucky and Jay Gatsby is interested in her.

  • In order to win over Daisy, Gatsby lies about his family background by claiming that his is a very rich family.
  • In addition, he put up an outwardly positive character and personality.

Gatsby and Myrtle lived short lives owing to their desire for rich and luxurious experiences. They wasted their lives in the company of Tom and Daisy, who later reunited. Knowledge is of essential for one to realize the American dream. The only way to live the American dream is through hard work.  

The Great Gatsby Essay: The Pursuit of the American Dream

(A major theme in  The Great Gatsby  is the pursuit of what can be termed the American dream. Do you agree? By choosing a major character or a situation in Fitzgerald’s novel, discuss how or whether Fitzgerald is successful in exposing the underside of the American dream)

Among the themes portrayed in the novel  The Great Gatsby by by Scott Fitzgerald is the corruption of the American dream. The American Dream is defined as someone starting low economically or socially and then working hard towards wealth and prosperity.

In this sample essay of the Great Gatsby we expose the negative effects of the American Dream.

The Great Gatsby and the American Dream

The American dream is an idealistic perception that people have about life. Most people view the American dream as a life characterized by wealth and fame. Other supposed components of the American dream include a happy family and access to everything that can be purchased by money. It is possible to live the American dream, but one must dedicate themselves to hard work and perseverance. Achieving the dream is highly probable but living it is difficult. The novel “The American Dream” written by Scott Fitzgerald portrays the image of the American dream in the years of 1920s.

Many people have the perception that living the American dream is being wealthy. However, the exact definition of the American dream is to accomplish one’s goals in life and supplement them with happiness (Hartshell 1). It is unrealistic to argue that one is living the American dream if they have poor health, no friends, and no family, even if they are endowed with materialistic things. Giving an individual a big mansion and an expensive car would only give them temporary contentment after which they would feel even emptier (Hartshell 1). One of the things that characterize the American dream is hard work; it is impossible to live a good life in America without hard work.

Another critical factor towards living the American dream is knowledge. When one is aware that wealth will not translate to happiness, he or she will incorporate aspects of joy to supplement their wealth. People in the 1920s were devoid of this knowledge and would therefore risk every aspect of their lives to amass wealth (Hartshell 2). According to them, being wealthy, powerful, and famous translated to living the American dream. Gatsby, Myrtle, and Daisy involved themselves in corruption and devastation in efforts to realize the American dream. However, the mechanisms they used to achieve what they perceived as the American dream finally caught up with them ending their wealthy and unhappy lives.

Most people are aware that the American dream indeed exists. However, the factors that motivate them to chase after the goal push them away from experiencing the good things attached to the American dream. In the book “Great Gatsby,” Myrtle had the desire of living the American dream, but just like other characters in the book, her definition of the American dream was wealth and luxurious life. When she met her husband George, she overestimated his wealth and found herself getting married to a mechanic (Wullick 2). Her desire for the American dream was so big that she was willing to sacrifice everything to realize it. She even contemplates having a divorce, but in the early years, such processes were highly discouraged. In efforts to live the American dream, Myrtle ends up becoming Tom’s mistress (Wullick 2). Tom is a wealthy man who was born into a wealthy family and leads a very luxurious life with his wife, Daisy. Myrtle is so blinded by her desire to lead a prosperous life that she fails to realize that Tom neither values nor respects her. At one time, Tom hits Myrtle’s face, breaking her nose for repeatedly mentioning Daisy’s name.

In reality, the American dream should be defined by wealth, health, and happiness. In “The Great Gatsby” however, Myrtle leads a wealthy and luxurious life devoid of any pleasure. Her luxurious life is however short-lived as Tom’s wife later kills her by use of Gatsby’s car. Daisy uses Gatsby’s car to hit Myrtle, who she found at a gas station close to where the latter lived with her husband, George (Wullick 2). There is a stipulated way of living the American dream, and it involves using legal and socially acceptable methods to rise from poor financial grounds to the high-end life of the rich. Myrtle failed to adhere to these stipulated ways and ended up living a short and unhappy life.

To live the American dream, one must set their priorities right. Most people end up missing on the American dream owing to their failure to prioritize the essential things in life. Gatsby, unlike Tom, was born into a low-income family, but his desire to live the American dream was to get the attention of Daisy, who she first saw as a wealthy and young luxurious woman (Falth 7). To rise from his poor financial grounds to the high-end life of the wealthy, Gatsby had to use illegal economic undertakings to make money. He involved himself in the distribution of unlawful alcohol (Fitzgerald 13). To protect his relationship with Daisy, he lied about owning a chain of drug stores. Gatsby’s goal after garnering wealth was to take Daisy away from Tom, a task that proved impossible. At one time, he had to force Daisy to confess that she never loved Tom, which she did but later denied (Fitzgerald 13). Gatsby’s life was full of discontentment despite all his wealth. His entire life was controlled by the desire for love, sex, and luxurious experiences. He even had to purchase a mansion close to where Tom and Daisy lived so he could be able to see Daisy. But just like Myrtle, his luxurious life was short-lived because he was later shot by George, Myrtle’s husband as a reaction to the death of his wife which was caused by Gatsby’s car.

The plot of the book goes that a young beautiful woman, Daisy Buchanan hails from Louisville in Kentucky. Jay Gatsby is interested in Daisy; he wants her to be his soul mate. Gatsby is a military officer stationed in Daisy’ home area. In order to win over Daisy, Gatsby lies about his family background by claiming that his is a very rich family. In addition, he put up an outwardly positive character and personality. “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor” (“The Great Gatsby”).  Daisy’s heart is eventually won by Gatsby and they go on to make love.

Both Gatsby and Myrtle lived short but luxurious lives, which they deemed to be the American dream. Their decision to use wicked ways to amass wealth in chase of the American dream contributed significantly to their unexpected deaths. The most ironic thing is that both Tom and Daisy are portrayed as being united in their marriage at the end of the book despite the fact they were the cause of Gatsby and Myrtle’s death. The overall theme of the book is that the American dream can only be realized through hard work.

Works Cited

Fälth, Sebastian. “Social class and status in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.” (2013).

Fitzgerald, Francis Scott.  The Great Gatsby (1925) . na, 1991.

Hartshell, Wallace. “The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald the American dream.” Free Book Summary, 2018, https://freebooksummary.com/the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald-the-american-dream-4234 .

“ The Great Gatsby”. [film] Hollywood: Jack Clayton, 1974.  

Wulick, Anna. “Best analysis: love and relationships in The Great Gatsby.”  SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips , 2018, blog.prepscholar.com/the-great-gatsby-theme-love-relationships .

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Critique of “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Title and Author: “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Introduction: Published in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is a seminal work of American literature that explores themes of ambition, love, and the American Dream. The novel is set in the Roaring Twenties and is narrated by Nick Carraway, who provides a firsthand account of his interactions with the enigmatic Jay Gatsby.

Summary: The novel follows Nick Carraway as he moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the world of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s lavish parties and secretive background intrigue Nick. As Gatsby’s past and his love for Daisy Buchanan are revealed, the novel examines the disillusionment of the American Dream.

  • Themes: “The Great Gatsby” critiques the notion of the American Dream, highlighting the emptiness and moral decay behind the facade of wealth and success. Fitzgerald explores themes of love, idealism, and social stratification, illustrating the hollowness of the pursuit of materialism.
  • Character Development: Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a tragic figure whose relentless pursuit of a flawed dream leads to his downfall. His idealization of Daisy Buchanan and his obsession with recreating the past underscore his inability to accept reality. Daisy represents the unattainable ideal and the superficiality of the upper class, while Nick Carraway’s moral introspection provides a counterpoint to the characters’ excesses.
  • Writing Style: Fitzgerald’s lyrical and evocative prose captures the decadence and excess of the Jazz Age. His use of symbolism, such as the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, adds depth to the narrative. The novel’s rich descriptions and vibrant imagery bring the opulent world of Gatsby to life.

Interpretation: “The Great Gatsby” can be interpreted as a critical examination of the American Dream and the moral and social decline that accompanied the pursuit of wealth in the 1920s. Through Gatsby’s tragic story, Fitzgerald highlights the disillusionment and emptiness that often accompany material success. The novel also reflects on themes of identity, illusion, and the passage of time.

Evaluation: “The Great Gatsby” is a poignant critique of the American Dream and a beautifully crafted narrative that captures the spirit of an era. Fitzgerald’s exploration of human desires and societal flaws continues to resonate with readers today. The novel’s enduring appeal and influence on American literature affirm its status as a timeless classic.

Conclusion: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” remains a landmark in American literature, celebrated for its exploration of themes related to ambition, love, and the American Dream. Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, readers are invited to reflect on the complexities of human behavior and the moral implications of the pursuit of wealth and success. The novel’s rich symbolism and evocative prose ensure its place as a timeless and relevant work that continues to captivate and inspire readers.

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  1. Best Analysis: The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

    Book Guides. The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story on the surface, but it's most commonly understood as a pessimistic critique of the American Dream. In the novel, Jay Gatsby overcomes his poor past to gain an incredible amount of money and a limited amount of social cache in 1920s NYC, only to be rejected by the "old money" crowd.

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    Related to money and class, the fact that both Gatsby and the Wilsons strive to improve their positions in American society, only to end up dead, also suggests that the American Dream -- and specifically its hollowness -- is a key theme in the book as well. But there are other themes at play here, too.

  7. PDF The American Dream as a Means of Social Criticism in The Great Gatsby

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    A Great American Dream. The Great Gatsby and "Babylon Revisited," both by F. Scott Fitzgerald, are stories about the emptiness and recklessness of the 1920s. Each story has its distinctions, but Fitzgerald's condemnation of the decade reverberates through both. Fitzgerald explores and displays insufficiencies of the vacuous period, and does so ...

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    The American Dream, to start with nothing and through hard work and determination achieve wealth and happiness. This is evident in the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Jay Gatsby certainly believes in the American Dream and that wealth can buy him happiness. Gatsby looks up to the American dream and follows it so he can be the ...

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    The American Dream is defined as someone starting low economically or socially and then working hard towards wealth and prosperity. In this sample essay of the Great Gatsby we expose the negative effects of the American Dream. The Great Gatsby and the American Dream. The American dream is an idealistic perception that people have about life.

  19. Gatsbys View on The American Dream

    F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, is a classic tale of the American Dream and the lengths one man will go to in order to achieve it.The American Dream, the belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination, has been a central theme in American literature and culture for centuries. However, the novel also explores the darker side of the ...

  20. Critique of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    Published in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" is a seminal work of American literature that explores themes of ambition, love, and the American Dream. The novel is set in the Roaring Twenties and is narrated by Nick Carraway, who provides a firsthand account of his interactions with the enigmatic Jay Gatsby. Summary:

  21. The Illusion of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

    Introduction. F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, serves as a tragic love story and a critical examination of the American Dream.The American Dream is the belief that individuals, regardless of their social class, race, gender, or nationality, can achieve great success in the United States through hard work and perseverance. However, Fitzgerald's novel challenges this idealized ...

  22. hey! writing an intertextual essay on The Great Gatsby (book ...

    hey! writing an intertextual essay on The Great Gatsby (book) and Joker (2019) and wondering if anyone could help me find similarities (thematic; particularly on themes such as the american dream, illusion vs reality etc.). thank you!! any help would be much appreciated!! Share Add a Comment. Be the first to comment ...

  23. Challenging The American Dream in "The Great Gatsby"

    The Great Gatsby is one of the greatest texts of the 1920s and is widely known as a critique of the American Dream. The American Dream is the aspirational belief in the United States in which all individuals are prone to the opportunity of success and higher social status through hard work. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald depicts the myth of the American dream in the Jazz age through ...