Incorporation of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby

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Incorporation of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby

In the novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author incorporates the aspect of the American Dream to develop the story. The American Dream's goals embody the story to show how one can attempt to put effort into accomplishing one's aspirations in life. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald gives various examples of different characters so called American Dream. Some characters are able to achieve their goal and others are not able to accomplish their goal. From beginning to end Fitzgerald shows how this concept of the American Dream is accomplished and failed by the characters in the story line.

Daisy and Tom are two characters whose dreams portray to be wealthy and to be in control of things. Tom throughout the story acts brutal and tries to control everything. For example, Nick describes him as: "It was a body capable of enormous leverage-a cruel body. His speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed"(11). Nick's description of Tom shows his stature of a bully and that how he maybe able to get things done. Then later in the story Tom does another thing, which shows his resemblance of this type of behavior:

The central character of the story, Jay Gatsby, has a dream that through wealth and power he can attain Daisy his real dream. He is trying to acquire Daisy back since at one time, they had had a love affair, and he loved her very much. Unfortunately at that time he was not in the same social class as her so, he had to amass a fortune. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to Daisy: "'Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay '" (83), and throws extravagant parties, hoping by chance she might show up at one of them. Soon he meets Nick Carraway, a cousin of Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting, "'He wants to know...if you'll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over'" (83). He tried to accomplish his dream throughout the book but eventually failed after Daisy was not able to admit that she does not love Tom and claim that she never loved him for the last four years. "'Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom'" (140). Even after this, he still believes that Daisy loves him as the reader sees at the Plaza Hotel. He is convinced and so he takes the responsibility of Myrtle Wilson's murder: "'Was Daisy driving?' 'Yes...but of course I'll say I was'" (151). This message led to him and the downfall of his dream because a little bit later George Wilson by accident thinks that Gatsby was the one who killed his wife and decides to kill him. Gatsby's dream effects the other characters behavior and the story directly.

The Great Gatsby incorporates the American Dream in the story through the charac

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1057
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English