How Is The American Dream Corrupt In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Essay

In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American dream has become corrupted and those who seek this dream have become bastardized. Originally, the idea of the American dream began from the want and need for a secure income, a happy family and home life, and an education. For all the characters, the American dream is all about wealth, status, and materialistic objects. Many of the characters subconsciously strive for their interpretation of the American dream. Fitzgerald presents two different people; George Wilson represents the working class, and Jay Gatsby, the new money. Both fail to reach their goals, showing that no character has more opportunity than the other in fulfilling their idea

of the American dream.
Gatsby has reduced the idea of the American dream to nothing but materialistic possessions, including Daisy as one of them. For Jay Gatsby, having Daisy by his side is his dream come true.

He idolizes Daisy and she represents the final object to his American dream that he has been working for. Her “voice [was] full of money (120).” and Gatsby was attracted to that because that is part of his plan to winning Daisy. When he first moves to West Egg, he positions himself directly across from Daisys house and looks at the green light at the end of her dock night after night. Nick, Daisys cousin and Gatsbys neighbor, notes that one night he saw, “…[Gatsby] stretch out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way…[Nick] could have have sworn [Gatsby] was trembling…[he] glanced seaward — and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When [he] looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and [Nick] was alone again in the unquiet darkness (21)”. The green light represents hope and opportunity for a happy life, just as this land had once been a symbol for European sailors on their way to America in search of freedom, happiness and riches. Gatsby worked hard for this dream of his, he came from nothing and worked his way up always hoping that he could reach his goal of marrying Daisy, Gatsby never lost sight of his green light. Nick thinks to himself, “ As I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first

picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter – to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther (180).” Gatsby has a passion for love and life, but when he first sees Daisy again after five years, he seems empty and lost, “There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dream— not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of [Gatsbys] illusion (95).” Gatsbys dream seems to be over, the reality of Daisy does not compare to the illusion of loving her. Gatsby will keep working towards his goal, putting his trust and faith in the green light, the hope and opportunity. All though Gatsby has all the riches and material items, he still cant obtain this one thing he wants because he idolizes Daisy and looks at her as an object, something to conquer. This shows that the American dream is corrupt because Gatsby was a self-made man who worked hard for what he has.
The character of George Wilson represents another example of the corruption of the American dream.

George lives in the Valley of the Ashes, a place “… where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens;… ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke… of men who move dimly and already crumbling through powdery air (23).” The Valley of the Ashes lacks happiness and hope, and the people who live there are ghostly and empty. George lives with his wife, Myrtle Wilson who is having an affair with Daisys husband Tom. The only thing that can satisfy Myrtle is materialistic objects and money and because of the Wilsons’ financial situation, George can not provide that for her. He works hard and tries to earn enough money for them so that they can get away. George has, “wised up to something funny the last two days (124)”, his wives affair. He wants to buy Toms car so that he can sell it and have enough money to get away, “I’ve been here too long. I want to get away. My wife and I want to get away (123).” George works hard and when he cant force Myrtle to stay with him and cooperate to leave with him, he turns to the only sign that holds the littlest bit of color in the valley of the ashes, The Eyes of T.J. Eckleburg. “The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic – their irises are one yard high. They look out of no face, but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose. But his eyes, dimmed a

little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground(23).” George seems to be crazed about this idea that Myrtle would cheat on him, he locks her upstairs and turns to his version of the “green light”. George talked to his friend, ”I told her she might fool me but she couldn’t fool God. I took her to the window" – with an effort he got up and walked to the rear window and leaned with his face pressed against it – and I said ‘God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!’” George is so desperate for guidance and hope that he turns to an advertisement. He loved Myrtle and wanted to move away from the corruption where they could be happy together but his symbol of hope had only failed him because wealth and materialism got in the way.
In conclusion, the American dream had changed greatly from the beginning of civilization to the time the book takes place, the 1920’s. The American dream had shifted from basic human needs, such as a home, a family, an education and an income, to wealth, social status, and lavish lifestyles. All have the opportunity to either American dream, but, when striving for the second one, the end goal becomes hazy and there are many distractions such as social competition, gossip, and money spending. If the characters could've kept their sights straight the possibility of having the promises of the American dream —the opportunity to have success, family, and happiness— could've came true for them. Both characters came from different social settings but they are both self-made men, Fitzgerlad is trying to say that even for the self-made man, if you let materialistic items and greed get in the way, your dream can become corrupted.