Examples Of Idealism In The Great Gatsby

Gatsby’s Unrealistic Dream

The American dream is an “idea that believes all people have the possibility of prosperity and success.” This idea inspired people to fight for something or someone. This idea can be determined by love, wealth, power, success, etc. During the 1920’s, the idea of the American dream became corrupted and replaced with the idea of wealth and power. The main theme in this novel by Fitzgerald is the American dream. “The Great Gatsby is a corrupted version of what used to be a pure and honest ideal way to live”. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby is destroyed by his view of the American dream, corrupted and perilous, of being with Daisy and having it all.

Fitzgerald’s character, Gatsby, is consumed with

the idea of Daisy. He idealizes the infallible illusion of her and believes that it is kismet for them to be together. Gatsby has imagined Daisy as a perfect and wonderful women, creating a road of failure and disappointment for both of them when he realizes who she really is.
Gatsby believes that he can buy happiness.

He thinks that if he becomes popular and rich, that Daisy will marry him and everything will be perfect, which is not the case. He also that believes that if he keeps himself busy he can fill the part of his heart that is left for Daisy. This did not work because no matter how much money or material possession he owns, he still wants her. He realizes that achieving the American dream of money and success is not reaching the happiness of being together with Daisy. Gatsby’s impractical trust in money and wealth and the potential of life distorted his dreams into a life based on deception and

lies.
Gatsby’s dream, high and unreachable, can represent the harsh reality of the American dream today. In today’s society, we are pressured to be perfect. Every one is trying to achieve the perfect American dream. Focusing on one thing can make us forget about what is actually attainable. The Liberal Imagination by Lionel Trilling states that this book has gained in weight and relevance over the years.
The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald has wonderful examples of conflicts. The conflicts of ‘man versus society’ and ‘man versus self’ identify the struggles of trying to achieve the American dream. Gatsby is involved in many ‘man versus society’ conflicts. For instance, Gatsby is viewed as unethical since he is a bootlegger, illegally selling liquor, to become rich so he can be with Daisy. Gatsby also has to change who he is perceived and change who he is just to be accepted into the social class that he wants to belong to. An example of ‘man versus self’ is Gatsby trying to improve himself and change himself in order to feel good enough for Daisy.
Fitzgerald used many symbols for the American dream.

He uses these symbols to emphasize the endeavors of the American dream. The green light at Daisy’s house symbolizes many things. It can symbolize Gatsby’s consuming need for money and wealth. The light can also symbolize Gatsby standing alone in the dark with only the idea of the light, Daisy, to lighten his gloomy world. The light is just beyond his reach, making is so that he can never actually have it, which makes it a symbol of Daisy’s love for him and his American dream. Gatsby’s dream is an example of any person’s dream that is unattainable. It reminds us that no matter how much we have, we will always strive for more. Gatsby is not just a character. He is a symbol of unattainable

dreams.
Gatsby will never be good enough. He will never have enough money or power making his idea of success unfeasible. Gatsby’s dream will never be anything other than a dream and “his death is as much the death of a dream as the death of a man.” Jay Gatsby is terminated by his hopes of happiness without any feeling of deprivation.