The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

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Hellen Keller, an American author, once said, "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby suffers from a similar lack of vision when it comes to his pursuit of the romantic dream. Gatsby is stuck trying to recreate the past with his love Daisy Buchanan without being able to see reality clearly. In Gatsby's mind, their relationship is thought of as an object that has been lost and he loses sight of what love is truly supposed to be. He also does not realize that Daisy is not the ideal love he is searching for. Gatsby envisions her as the perfect girl but in truth she is far from perfect. Gatsby chooses not to recognize her flaws because he cannot see through the…show more content…
Part of the American Dream involves having a significant other on ones journey from rags to riches. People desire the title of being in love more than the desire to be with the other person they supposedly care about. The desire to "have" a woman rather than actually be in love is particularly noticeable in Tom and Daisy's marriage. During an argument with Gatsby, Tom fights for possession over his wife. Both men profess that they love her and that she loves them back until Tom ultimately states, " 'She's not leaving me!' [his] words suddenly leaned down over Gatsby. 'Certainly not for a common swindler who'd have to steal the ring he put on her finger' "(Fitzgerald 7.275). Tom is claiming Daisy for himself, saying that because she is married to him she now belongs to him. Marriage to Tom is thought of as an economic exchange, as if he has bought Daisy with his enormous wealth. Gatsby, in Toms opinion, is trying to buy Daisy dishonestly. Tom stays married with Daisy to prove he is better than Gatsby and won't let anyone steal what is rightfully his. One should not pursue the romantic dream because the final goal being marriage is not very desirable. One won't be treated as a person but as a thing that her spouse
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