The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

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Fitzgerald uses Gatsby as a symbol of America in the 1920s, Gatsby’s character in the novel is used for the expedition of wealth, which, Fitzgerald implies was so craved in the 1920s that people would become obscene and greedy. The American Dream or the pursuit of happiness had disintegrated into an empty journey for wealth. Gatsby’s strong desire or dream to be happy with Daisy had become the drive for his criminal activity and mass wealth making Gatsby a big success. There is no one definition to The American Dream, because The American Dream has a different meaning to everyone. The American Dream today could be freedom of equality or lower taxes. Comparably, in the 1920s The American Dream was the dream of fame and wealth. Fitzgerald…show more content…
In effort of trying to win the attention of Daisy, Gatsby through huge immaculate parties hoping she’d wander in one night. It was all for Daisy. (As Jordan explains in Chapter 4) Gatsby resorted to crime to try and make enough money to impress her to show Daisy he could be of the same “social class”. Gatsby pursued his bootlegging to show Daisy he could provide to keep up with her materialistic lifestyle. Gatsby’s new success further suggests that he has fulfilled the American Dream, but knowing this Gatsby never seems content. He yearns for something more, the green light (Daisy). Earlier in the novel Nick sees Gatsby standing at the end of his dock looking out in the water at a distant green light “He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling.” (Chapter 1) The green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby symbolizes this light with Daisy; in Chapter 1 he reaches toward it in the darkness in yearning for his dream girl Daisy. Gatsby’s ambition for Daisy is closely associated with the American dream. Nick compares the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock to how America must have looked to new settlers who came to America long ago (Chapter…show more content…
The new money millionaires differentiate of the old aristocracy rich families. West Egg and its residents represent the newly rich, while East Egg and its residents represent the old aristocracy such as Daisy and Tom Buchanan. The newly rich are portrayed as offensive to the upper class, flashy, and lacking social grace and taste. Such as Gatsby, who owns an immaculate mansion, wears handmade English shirts, drives a brand new flashy car, and doesn’t pick up on social grace and signals, such as the Sloane’s insincere invitation inviting Gatsby to dine with them. Comparably the old aristocracy is composed of grace and class, emphasized in the tasteful home of the
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