"The Great Gatsby" and "Citizen Kane" both introduce the theme of the American Dream. In the case of "The Great Gatsby" the American Dream involves a slowly uncovered case of corruption. The American Dream of which Scott .F. Fitzgerald personifies relates to dreams of freedom, hope and following one's goals. Fitzgerald uses the American dream through the tension between two definitions of what exactly the American Dream is. One belief is that of hope, limitless possibilities and reaching human potential. This is where Nick Carraways view of Gatsby as a "good man" stems from. The second version of the American Dream is one that has materialistic values, where one's dream is realised with gaining riches and having a high social potential. It is Gatsby's means of gaining his riches that eludes Carraway to his "Unaffected sco

rn" towards. This shows Fitzgerald's view that the American Dream cannot be reached without defeating its own purpose. However where corruption occurs with the attempt to achieve the American Dream in "The Great Gatsby," "Citizen Kane" offers the same theme in a vastly different manner. Orson Wells creates the American Dream through Charles Foster Kane. Charles Kane, unlike Jay Gatsby, inherits vast fortunes. It is the inherited fortune that allows Kane to achieve the American Dream with minor effort. The main difference between the two stems from the ways in which Jay Gatsby and Charles Kane accumulate and accomplish the American Dream. Once Charles Foster Kane has gained the American Dream, we see the onset of materialism and corruption. Just as Jay Gatsby endured corruption, so to does Charles Kane as he gradually falls victim to corruption when he tries to use his power to make Susan, his hapless singing wife, into a star opera singer. Charles Kanes American Dream then crumbles as his relationship with Emily and then Susan eventually deteriorate. Through Kanes power and wealth comes his downfall and compromise of the American Dream. Similarly, Jay Gatsby's dominating power, wealth and corruptive nature causes the collapse in his American Dream.

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Approximate Word count = 1359
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)