...English Essay: Great Gatsby “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, Just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the same advantages that you’ve had.” This quote states that everyone has not been able to love an easy, non-troubled life. The rich get things handed to them easily and quick without them even having to work for it. While the less fortunate have to fight for these same things. This quotation shows how Scott Fitzgerald really felt about the American Dream. He was able to show how the American Dream was a failure in this whole book. There are three examples showing how the American Dream is a failure through the George Wilson, The Buchannas, and Jay Gatsby. Scott Fitzgerald uses George Wilson to show that the American Dream is a failure and not true. He is the one character in the book you can see this through because he is a hardworking man, responsible and as well truthful yet he is poor. We know from reading this book that George Wilson has been working all his life in the Valley of Ashes, but has still continued to be nothing more than determined to reach the success of the wealthy. All of his acts of hard work should be leading him to the richness and success of the wealthy instead of it all going to the wrong characters in the book. George Wilson shows that he is responsible and mature through the entire book especially when he finds out his wife, Myrtle Wilson has been cheating on him. He knows that the city has done this to her and he...
Words: 1061 - Pages: 5
...“The Great Gatsby”, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays a world filled with rich societal happenings, love affairs, and corruption. Nick Carraway is the engaged narrator of the book, a curious choice considering that he is in a different class and almost in a different world than Gatsby and the other characters. Nick relates the plot of the story to the reader as a member of Gatsby’s circle. He has ambivalent feelings towards Gatsby, despising his personality and corrupted dream but feeling drawn to Gatsby’s magnificent capacity to hope. Using Nick as a moral guide, Fitzgerald attempts to guide readers on a journey through the novel to illustrate the corruption and failure of the American Dream. To achieve this, Nick’s credentials as a reliable narrator are carefully established and reinforced throughout the story. The American Dream is a sensitive and beloved topic in American culture. Discussing its failure and corruption needs to be done gently and morally. Fitzgerald understood this, and therefore acknowledged the need of a kind and cordial narrator within a materialistic society. Enter Nick Carraway, who on the first page lets readers know “In consequence, I’m inclined to reserve all judgments” pg 7. This statement already serves to set Nick up as a decent and honest man that can be trusted. To back up this statement Fitzgerald included a short section regarding Nick’s family and background. The Carraway’s claim themselves to be loyal Americans. However, when...
Words: 1727 - Pages: 7
...How is the great Gatsby about the failure of the"American Dream"? The American Dream is a myth that people struggle to achieve each day of their lives but will never achieve. It cannot be achieved because it is an endless race for perfection .In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby; all the characters are attempting to become happier. The characters are divided into two groups: the rich (upper class) and the poor (lower class); though the main characters only try to make their lives better, but they are ruined by the harsh reality of life. America is founded on the principle of liberty, the notion that everyone is free to say and write what they want and that everyone is equal. Some people assume that since so much freedom is allowed, at least one person is exercising that freedom to its fullest. They work their whole lives to try to be like that person, but that person does not exist. They want to be as rich as him, and as powerful as him. These people are called the wealthy. The Great Gatsby illustrates the story these people, and how they are corrupted by the potential of seemingly limitless freedom. Tom and Daisy Buchanan, the rich couple in East Egg, seem to have everything they unhappy and seek more wealth. Tom drifts on "forever seeking a little wistfully for the could possibly want. Though their lives are full of anything they could imagine, they are dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game"(Fitzgerald 10) and reads "deep books with long words...
Words: 889 - Pages: 4
...The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby gives the readers a visual image of every character’s life by expressing their feelings; the colors are used very often as symbols that depict the person’s character and represents their behavior. The author utilized the colors white, green, red, blue, yellow, and gold. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is symbolic to the limitless promise of the dream Gatsby pursues. “Gatsby believed in the green light with such intensity that he did not realize his immature dream was unattainable from the start.”(Fitzgerald) Gatsby, was hoping that his American Dream would come true, it was his inspiration, his hope, and, ironically, his death and downfall. he was expecting to get married...
Words: 1674 - Pages: 7
...Disillusionment and failure in The Great Gatsby In the book The Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the theme of disillusionment, love, lust and failure in order to portray the “American dream”. The American dream is the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Many believe that the American dream is “earned”, but what they don't know is that there is a lot of “behind the scenes” money making deals that occur. And these deals put you at the top without even asking. For example Gatsby wasn't the perfect man that he was imagined to be. Jay Gatsby's real name was, James Gatz and the change seemed right when he “reinvented” himself. Gatsby didn't like being the son of farmers and was embarrassed about where he was from. “His imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all.” He changed it at the age of 17 because of his transformation when he met Dan Cody. This one of the main reasons he hid his background from people. The other was that in reality Gatsby was indeed an unrepentant criminal, who bootlegged his way through the Prohibition to create his wealth and pursue his dream. The prohibition was a nationwide constitutional ban on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages that remained in place from 1920 to 1933. To make his way to the top and to pursue the “American dream” Gatsby basically illegally sold alcoholic beverages...
Words: 1566 - Pages: 7
...The Great American Dream is the ideal by which equal opportunity is accessible to any American, allowing the highest ambitions and goals to be succeeded. The American Dream in Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men couldn’t be extremely thoughtful given the clearly views of those two text. Both novel and film have highlight the most powerful theme, scene, character and relationships between each major and minor character. Gatsby is one of the main character in The Great Gatsby who have been symbolize the American Dream. Lennie and George have fulfil the Great American Dream with incident case of murdering a women. Thirdly, Gatsby have a good reputation and wealthy but Lennie and George haven’t dream of. The major characters of The Great Gatsby have represent the American Dream in many different ways. Gatsby becomes a wealthy person after the war ends. After the war ends, Gatsby gets help from Meyer Wolfsheim, and enjoys a peaceful luxurious life in his great and luxurious mansion. Gatsby also have a long lover relationship long times ago in the past. His relationship in general is very important compare to Of Mice and Men because two text have similar long story truth love relationships. In the situation of Gatsby, his dream to achieve a truth love with Daisy is tainted by the failure to understand the truth of relationship. Tom...
Words: 458 - Pages: 2
...created equal” and that everyone has the rights for “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This document led to the national ethos that is the American Dream. This dream states that "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class. Following the Civil War the United States of America underwent large scale change and by the start of the twentieth century was one of the richest nations in the world. By 1950 the U.S.A. was the richest country in the world and a superpower. The state was not the only thing to change during this period. From the late-nineteenth century up to the 1920s average Americans experienced a dramatic expansion in wealth and prosperity. However, with the Wall Street Crash in 1929 the U.S.A. experienced an economic depression that destroyed millions of livelihoods. This eventful period of American history led many to question the American Dreams place in modern America. This research paper will examine the interpretation of the American Dream in literature between the Progressive Era at the start of the twentieth century and the 1950s economic and social boom. In order to do this the paper will examine the novels The Jungle, The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman. These three novels all examine the American Dream in different decades. Written in 1906 by Upton Sinclair The Jungle is a novel that portrayed the life of immigrants and the working class in early-twentieth...
Words: 2096 - Pages: 9
...Clever and captivating, F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ is perhaps the most critically analysed American piece of the past century. Arguably this is because Fitzgerald uses many diverse literary devices to fascinate the reader. Gatsby and Daisy embody the theme of complicated relationships, which Fitzgerald uses to make the reader question the legitimacy of Daisy’s feelings and Gatsby’s persistence in chasing his dream. Fitzgerald involves symbolism in many ways including a green light at the end of Daisy’s dock to symbolise Gatsby’s dream and comment on the greed of the people of the roaring twenties. The American Dream is a theme through which Fitzgerald is able to comment on the moral decay of the Roaring Twenties society. Fitzgerald uses the theme of complicated relationships between characters as a symbol of misjudgement, this is especially evident for Gatsby and his relationship with Daisy. When Gatsby and Daisy began their love, Daisy was a symbol of wealth and the upper class of American society. Circumstantially it was the case that for Gatsby to fulfil his dream he would have to work to once again be worthy of Daisy’s love. It is hard not to question whether during their time apart Gatsby had glorified Daisy and it is uncertain as to whether she was worth it. Gatsby strongly desired the past to be repeated. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow...
Words: 998 - Pages: 4
...In the past the American Dream was an inspiration to many, young and old. To live out the American Dream was what once was on the minds of many Americans, however soon afterward those same dreams were twisted with corruption. In The Great Gatsby, the American Dream was presented as a corrupted version of what used to be a pure and honest ideal way to live. The idea that the American Dream was about the wealth and the possessions one had been ingrained, somehow, into the minds of Americans during the 1920’s. As a result of the distortion of the American Dream, the characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby along with many others, lived life fully believing in the American Dream, becoming completely immersed in it and in the end suffered great tragedies. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman tells the story of the failure of a salesman, Willy Loman. Although not all Americans are salesmen, most of us share Willy’s dream of success. We are all partners in the American Dream and parties to the conspiracy of silence surrounding the fact that failures must outnumber successes. Miller amalgamates the archetypal tragic hero with the mundane American citizen. The result is the anti-hero, Willy Loman. He is a simple salesman who constantly aspires to become 'great'. Nevertheless, Willy has a waning career as a salesman and is an aging man who considers himself to be a failure but is incapable of consciously admitting it. As a result, the drama of the play lies not so...
Words: 593 - Pages: 3
...of The Great Gatsby and how those certain ideals inevitably clash. In a time period swelling with the prospect of wealth and aspiration, The Great Gatsby twists the common ideals of the 1920’s by illustrating the iniquity of these prospects. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, plays the role of the wealthy cultural icon, throwing grand parties while being adored by many. His intentions, however, resonate on a deeper level than simply rising above in social status. All that Gatsby does is based around winning the heart of his deep-rooted love, Daisy Buchanan. While Daisy is beautiful, her beauty is not what mesmerizes...
Words: 1814 - Pages: 8
...| The American Nightmare: Money's Hidden CurseThe American dream stands as a symbol for hope, prosperity, and happiness. But F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, examines the American dream from a different perspective, one that sheds light on those who contort these principles to their own selfish fantasies. Fitzgerald renders Jay Gatsby as a man who takes the Dream too far, and becomes unable to distinguish his false life of riches from reality. This 'unique' American novel describes how humanity's insatiable desires for wealth and power subvert the idyllic principles of the American vision. Jay Gatsby is the personification of limitless wealth and prestige, a shining beacon for the aspiring rich. Nick Carraway declares that there is "something glorious" about Gatsby, and that he is filled with "some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life"(8). It appears to mere mortals who are not blessed with riches, that Gatsby fulfills the American dream of achieving fame and fortune. But instead of being content with his greenbacks, Gatsby believes that he can replicate the "Platonic conception of himself" (89) and become the flawless god of wealth that he depicts. The American dream has many interpretations, but Gatsby latches onto the concept of wealth alone, failing to see that he can improve his character through hard work and toil as well. One understanding of the American dream, bettering oneself to achieve a higher social status, sadly spurs people like Gatsby to achieve...
Words: 1033 - Pages: 5
...American Dreams To many, America is the land of opportunity. In the early nineteen hundreds immigrants from all over boarded ships to come to America. These people had big dreams of making new lives for themselves in America. They knew they were going to have to work hard and most were willing to do whatever it took to become successful. If you are willing to put forth hard work and effort the American dream is possible for anyone to achieve. The American dream defined by many is the idea that anyone can succeed through hard work which potentially leads to a happy, successful life. Others also believe that freedom, relationships, and fulfillment play a role in the American dream. Critics often suggest that not everyone has the same opportunities of being able to “live the dream” because of class, race, religion, and ethnicity. In the story, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald symbolizes the hope and opportunity that can be found in the new land, what comes to be known as the American Dream in the quote, “a fresh, green breast of the new world(Chapter 9).” The color green symbolizes the hope and opportunity that can be found in the new land, what comes to be known as the American Dream. An example of a metaphor in the story is Gatsby’s house. This image serves as a key symbol of aspiration, reflecting on both Gatsby's success as an American self-made man and the mirage of an identity he has created to win Daisy's love. Gatsby follows his American Dream as he buys the house to be across...
Words: 492 - Pages: 2
...Synopsis of Review The Great Gatsby is such a well shaped book, every point is balanced perfectly to have a highly unified ending. It doesn’t get old, always grabbing your attention. If fits every generation, making it a classic. The theme has had no real answer, having the possibility to be anything that you make it. It also ties up the American dream: being wealthy, having perfect love, and fulfillment in life. Some see the book as a spiritual failure. The background to Gatsby’s life isn’t certain even though there are many theories. The book’s narrator is compared to Joseph Conrad Marlow’s narrator in Heart of Darkness, they both dominate the novel. Marlow isn’t as involved in the storyline as much as Carraway is, but they are both used as “devices [to distance] the novelist from his fictive narrator.” Carraway differs from the other characters, one of his “ultimate strengths,” drawing us to Gatsby emphasizing the hero of the American experience. We picture Gatsby as rich, having the opportunity to experience so much more and be able to fall in love easier. Gatsby has a “Platonic conception of himself,” causing him to think he can go back to the past and get Daisy back. Gatsby works hard to fulfill his dream; he doesn’t want to face reality. “Edith Wharton told Fitzgerald that ‘to make Gatsby really great, you ought to have given us his early career.’” But having little background gives Gatsby that mysterious feel. Fitzgerald wrote a short story...
Words: 430 - Pages: 2
...In the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the title appears to be ironic to the readers, as Gatsby doesn't actually seem to be that “great” by the end of the book. At the beginning of the book outsiders see Gatsby as this glamorous, rich, and powerful man who throws extravagant parties. Also, when reading the title at first you have a preconceived notion of Gatsby being “great”. But, as the reader gets deeper into the book, Gatsby proves to be a very insecure man and readers start to perceive Gatsby as weak. In the book, The Great Gatsby, the title is meant to be ironic and reflects the contrast between how Gatsby appears to outsiders with how he truly is. At first sight, Jay Gatsby is shown as magnificent and dazzling, but towards the end of the book...
Words: 728 - Pages: 3
...The Great Gatsby, a story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is one based on the American Dream or should I say the “demise” of the American Dream. This so called dream in the 20’s was portrayed by wickedness and greed. Week three of our lecture we were asked to discuss what the American Dream meant to us and my response was one based off freedom, discovery, and hard work. Immigrants, salves, lower class citizens, etc. were accustomed to earning their money through manual labor, not through family inheritance as seen by most of the characters from The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald uses this story and the characteristics and actions of these characters to say that the “American Dream” was based on a lie in the 1920’s. The carefree satisfaction of the Jazz Age, also seen as the Materialistic Era, led to the extortion of the American Dream. The Declaration of Independence states that “all man are created equal and that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.” F. Scott Fitzgerald created this story to reveal that people in the 20’s were in a pursuit of selfish delight, and the equality of people was based on their financial assets. The line that states all mean are created equal is broken in the scene where Tom is bashing Gatsby for how he became wealthy. He calls Gatsby a crook, and in this in turn leads to retaliation from Gatsby and a fight almost breaking out. Two mean that hold such high class and dignity, yelling and...
Words: 1781 - Pages: 8
