The Great Gatsby and the American Dream
Webster's dictionary describes the American dream as the widespread aspiration of Americans to live better than their parents did. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby is a literary masterpiece that takes a fascinating look at the nature of the American dream that made its fiery inception during the American War of Independence 1776-83 when it became the central theme of the American Declaration of Independence. In short, it stated, "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by God, Creator, with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" (Dream 1). Through the voice of the narrator, Fitzgerald laments the social and spiritual decline of the American nation.
Society is generally defined as a formal association of people with similar interests, dreams and ambitions. In essence, it was this unified social association of likeminded people that created the American dream. The pre-Civil War America was thus seen by many as a pastoral haven where the oppressed of the world could find freedom and wealth. The saga of such young men as Benjamin Franklin helped foster the romantic assumption of the American dream "that all the magic of the world can be had for money" (Hoffman). In essence, this was the elusive "dream" (189) that Jay Gatsby was looking for. Gatsby had a "gift for hope, a romantic readiness" (6) that promised him life, wealth and happiness. However, where wealth accumulates, there also arises the "foul dust" (6) that floats in the wake of the dreamer. Wherever wealth is amassed, there are those who seek to control it and thus "establish domin...
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... we beat on, boats against the current" (189) clinging always to the ability to envision the dreams that bring sense, order and purpose to life.
Works Cited
Author Unknown. The Great Gatsby Introduction. N.D. 18 July 2002. http://www.newi.ac.uk/rdover/between/gatsby.htm
Decker, Jeffrey Louis. "Gatsby's Pristine Dream: The Diminishment of the Self-Made Man in the Tribal Twenties." Novel: A Forum on Fiction. 28.1 (1994): 52.
Hoffman, Frederick J. The Great Gatsby: a study. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1996. Excerpts From "Descriptions of Girls"
King, Luther. The American Dream. N.D. 19 July 2002. <http://www.stanford.edu/group/king/inventoy/abbrev.htm#MLKEC>
Rahner, K., The Mystery Of The Human Person in The Content Of Faith. 1992. July 19, 2002. http://www.acu.edu.au/mre/626/edre626_mod01.html
Important places in Europe included sites such as Stalingrad and Normandy. Stalingrad perhaps was the bloodies battle in all of Europe, also a major turning point for the Allies during World War II. The other gruesome battle took place in Normandy, France. The battle was called D-Day and almost signified the end of German resistance.
In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald gives the reader a glimpse into the life of the high class during the 1920’s through the eyes of a man named Nick Carraway. Through the narrator's dealings with high society, Fitzgerald demonstrates how modern values have transformed the American dream's ideas into a scheme for materialistic power and he reveals how the world of high society lacks any sense of morals or consequence. In order to support his message, Fitzgerald presents the original aspects of the American dream along with its modern face to show that the wanted dream is now lost forever to the American people. Jay Gatsby had a dream and did everything he could to achieve it however in the end he failed to. This reveals that the American dream is not always a reality that can be obtained. Fitzgerald demonstrates how a dream can become corrupted by one’s focus on acquiring wealth and power through imagery, symbolism, and characterization.
The Aztec Empire was the most powerful Mesoamerican kingdom of all time. They dominated the valley of Mexico in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Aztecs were an advanced and successful civilization that built beautiful, sophisticated cities, temples, and pyramids. They also created a culture full of creativity with mythological and religious traditions. Aztecs lead a structured and evocative life that let their society to become a very superior civilization. The Aztec’s communication skills were very well developed for their time; through religious beliefs, government involvement, and family life they lived a full and productive life. Until in 1519 when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, and defeated the Aztecs.
Gibb, Thomas. "Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby" The Explicator Washington: Winter 2005. Vol. 63, Iss.3; Pg. 1-3
The American dream has an inspiring connotation, often associated with the pursuit of happiness, to compel the average citizen to prosper. In Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s infatuation for Daisy drives him towards wealth in order to respark his love. Due to Daisy’s rich background, the traditional idea of love becomes skewed because of the materialistic mindsets of people in the 1920s. In the novel the wealthy are further stratified into two social classes creating a barrier between the elite and the “dreamers”. Throughout the novel, the idea of the American dream as a fresh start fails. As Nick, the narrator, spends time in New York, he realizes the corruption pursuing goals. Characters such as Gatsby and Myrtle constantly strive toward an the American dream, which Nick realizes to be fruitless in the end.
Forward, S. (2013) The Great Gatsby; following the dream The English Review. Volume 24 No 2. Journal
Muckrakers, journalists who exposed social, economic and political evils, controlled media and therefore had profound influence over the th...
Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print.
The Progressive Era was a time period between the years 1900-1920 and it marked a time in American history in which society was bursting with enthusiasm to improve life in the industrial age by making political and social changes through government action that ultimately led to a higher quality of life for American citizens. Progressives were known for their beliefs in limiting the power of big business, strengthening the power of the states, and were advocators against corruption and social injustice. These progressive reformers as well as the Federal Government successfully managed to improve the quality of life and establish a precedent for a move active government, although neither was completely successful in solving significant issues the nation faced.
On November of 1519, the Aztec leader Montezuma, received reports of small mountains floating off of the Mexican coast. Was it Quetzalcoatl, the legendary figure who had one day promised to return from across the ocean? In his distress, Montezuma sent messengers bearing gifts to ...
The simple definition of the American dream is a state of happiness a person hopes to achieve by obtaining materialistic prosperity through hard work. This however has not always been the dream. In early America the dream of many was to venture west, find land, and start a family, but as time progressed the dream has transformed into a need for materialistic possessions such as a car or a large house. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald reveals the how corrupt the American Dream has become and how truly irrelevant money and worldly possessions are to becoming genuinely satisfied. He does this through his portrayal of Gatsby’s confused love for Daisy or the idea of Daisy, Daisy and Tom Buchanan’s marriage, and the death of Gatsby.
Witkoski, Michael. "The Great Gatsby." Magill’S Survey Of American Literature, Revised Edition (2006): 1-2. Literary Reference Center. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.
The progressive era was a time of reform from the late nineteenth century until the end of World War I. During the progressive era the way the public looked at consumer safety was greatly affected. The people wanted to stop government corruption and end women’s suffrage. The progressive era also limited the consumption of alcohol while doing some major conservation. The progressive era was a very productive and affective time for America because the people demanded consumer safety, an end to government corruption, and women a right to vote while limiting alcohol use and conserving the environment.
In the year of 1933 Adolf Hitler seized the position of chancellor of Germany and this power that he received in January 30th is what shaped one of the most bloodlust dictatorships that this world has ever known. Hitler’s desire for power and victory made him one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen but it also made him one of the most cruel and heartless people known to mankind. But how did he do this, how did he become one of the greatest and cruellest dictators? Throughout this essay we will explore the long, short and immediate causes for Hitler’s sudden success.