America, the land of the promise of virtue. During the 1920’s the American economy experienced an economic surge, marking the start of the Jazz Age, an epoch of opportunity and decadence. During this time, the idea of the “American Dream” became prevalent, that wealth is not an esoteric quality that only the most astute among people could have. It preached the idea that with enough hard work, anyone, no matter their upbringing, could attain wealth and total satisfaction of life, resulting hundreds of thousands of people flocking to America hungering for a fortune. Francis Scott Fitzgerald was no different. As a young hopeful, he dreamed of attaining happiness and satisfaction in life, leading to his pursuit of fame and fortune. Ultimately, …show more content…
After experiencing wealth and luxury for the first time, Gatsby went to New York by his desire to be his wealthy and successful. In Nick’s eyes, “He was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly American...He was never quite still; there was always a tapping foot somewhere of the impatient opening and closing of a hand”(Fitzgerald 64). With the United States economy comfortably balanced at an all-time high, Gatsby mirrors this with the imagery Nick provides, portraying himself as a champion of the American people, the “impatient” movement symbolizing Gatsby’s relentless rush and indefatigable hope for the American Dream. On the contrary, Gatsby’s fidgeting also invokes imagery of an impatient child that feels entitled to a reward similar to how Gatsby feels obligated to Daisy’s love because he has earned a fortune. By assuming this child-like stance, Gatsby exhibits that his hope for the American Dream is naive, forcing himself to regress to his previous self. Doing this, Gatsby puts himself into the mindset of a dream-hungry child. This dual imagery of Gatsby shows that there are two sides to the American Dream, the original and pure and the corrupted and materialistic. Though Gatsby’s love for Daisy is a pure motive, the means by which he attempts to …show more content…
Fitzgerald, like Gatsby, was ultimately consumed by his relentless pursuit of satisfaction in materialistic affairs. By writing The Great Gatsby as a reflection of his own life, Fitzgerald attempted to preach that the American Dream was a false promise that would lead to one’s destruction. However, his message was, for the most part, drowned out by the noise and decadence of the Jazz Age. Dying as a failed prophet, America remained the glittering jewel of the world, tantalizing to the hundreds of thousands of money-hungry onlookers, foolishly believing in the false promise of virtue. America, the land of greed and rampant materialism, glittering and alluring, waiting for its next
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 character of Gatsby and Fitzgerald’s commentary on the logical fallacies of the American Dream are closely intertwined, which is why Fitzgerald goes to such great lengths to separate the two. By distinguishing Gatsby from the flaws he possesses allows the reader to care for Gatsby, and the impact of his death all the more powerful when it finally occurs. By making Gatsby a victim of the American Dream rather than just the embodiment of it, Fitzgerald is able to convince his audience of the iniquity of the American Dream by making them mourn the life of the poor son-of-a-bitch
He loses sight of the ultimate goal of his dreams, just as Fitzgerald must have seen in the hopeful eyes of ambitious young Americans. Poor, underprivileged people were developing dreams for better lives for themselves. But, in order to have better lives, they became too fixated on the means of getting there. Their dreams became blinded by money and misguided by the ultimate goal of bettering themselves. Thus, through Gatsby’s tragic nature, Fitzgerald argues that the American Dream becomes ultimately unobtainable by the material means required in pursuit of the ultimate goal of a successful and prosperous life.
...on materialism and social class. While novel is widely considered a zeitgeist of the time period, it is also a warning for the American Dream. Although the Dream is not Marxist materialism, it is certainly not traditional individualism and freedom. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby poses a question: what is the American Dream?
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrates one man’s efforts to reestablish a romantic relationship with his old flame. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald portrays an overarching theme of the “American Dream”. A majority of the characters in the novel have achieved financial success and independence, but none ever truly achieve emotional content. The author wove his opinion of the American dream into the novel by displaying characters who always fall short of an ideal life. Fitzgerald makes it clear that he believes that the American dream is no more than an ideological concept.
The American Dream There is no set definition to be found anywhere of the true meaning of The American Dream. Any hope, dream, or goal pursued by anyone in the history of America is an American Dream. In modern times the accepted dream seems to be 2.5 children, a house with a white picket fence, and a perfect spouse. However, as it is shown throughout literature from the early days of America to contemporary times, the American Dream is not always so simple a concept. America was originally founded on the dream of freedom.
The concept of one’s journey to reach the so called "American Dream" has served as the central theme for many novels. However, in the novel The Great Gatsby, the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays the American Dream as so opulent it is unrealistic and unreachable. The American Dream is originally about obtaining happiness, but by the 1920's, this dream has become twisted into a desire for fame and fortune by whatever means; mistaken that wealth will bring happiness. Fitzgerald illustrates that the more people reach toward the idealistic American dream, the more they lose sight of what makes them happy, which sends the message that the American dream is unattainable. The continuos yearning for extravagance and wealthy lifestyles has become detrimental to Gatsby and many other characters in the novel as they continue to remain incorrigible in an era of decayed social and moral values, pursuing an empty life of pleasure instead of seeking happiness.
Fitzgerald expressed that Americans give in too easily and are too careless, both which eventually lead to despair and consequence. He also portrayed that we create new fantasies to assist us while we chase old dreams. Fitzgerald’s definition and opinion of the American Dream still provide insight into today’s society, not just in the roaring 1920s, which is why The Great Gatsby continues to be a celebrated American
The American Dream is a powerful thing in the lives and hopes of its citizens, as shown in Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby. It is, and was, faith in individualism, expectation of progress, and mainly the belief in America as a land of opportunity. However, it also is differs from person to person. This plays a great part in Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby. His book took place in the 1920 's, which is also called the 'Roaring 20 's '. During this time, many Americans were freely spending. Moreover, the economy was doing extremely well and thus provided citizens with a sense of security and intense freedom. Many used that freedom and economic boom to become rich in business.
The American Dream is an ideal that has been present in the majority of American literature including The Great Gatsby. Although this phrase has become a cliché we sometimes put it into use without knowing the meaning. What exactly does this famous American Dream mean? Some might say that it is a journey to wealth and prosperity, while others might say that it is nothing else but the beautiful promise of settling down, having children, being able to provide for your family, and basically living a pleasant worry-free life. However, over time, the original expedition for resolution and freedom has evolved into a continuing
The American Dream, a long standing ideal embodies the hope that one can achieve financial success, political power, and everlasting love through dedication and hard work. During the Roaring 20s, people in America put up facades to mask who they truly were. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald conveys that the American Dream is simply an illusion, that is idealist and unreal. In the novel, Gatsby, a wealthy socialite pursues his dream, Daisy. In the process of pursuing Daisy, Gatsby betrays his morals and destroys himself. Through the eyes of the narrator, Nick, one sees the extent of the corruption Gatsby is willing to undertake in order to achieve his dream. Although Fitzgerald applauds the American Dream he warns against the dangers of living in a world full of illusions and deceit; a trait common during the Roaring 20s. The language and plot devices Fitzgerald uses convey that lies and facades, which were common during the Guided Age, destroys one’s own character and morals. Through Fitzgerald use of symbolism, expectations, and relationships, he explores the American dream, and how it is an illusion that corrupts and destroys lives.
The pursuit of the American Dream has been alive for generations. People from nations all over the world come to America for the chance to achieve this legendary dream of freedom, opportunity, and the “all American family”. However, in the 1920’s this dream began to take a different form. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, unfolds what the American Dream really meant during the roaring 20’s. The Great Gatsby tells a story of the affluent Jay Gatsby and his dream of attaining the love of the married Daisy Buchanan. In this novel, Gatsby’s dream of love is unmasked and reviled as a dream of materialistic things. Fitzgerald shows that each character truly glorifies only money, power, and social stature. During the 1920’s, these things were the only thing people dreamt about. The symbolism in The Great Gatsby illustrates how the American Dream became corrupt in the 1920’s.
Gatsby’s hedonism is a reflection of his morals being abandoned. “Scott Fitzgerald’s Criticism of America” by Marius Bewley gives insight on how The Great Gatsby highlights the bad aspects of the American Dream while highlighting the hope it brings for many. Bewley believes that Gatsby is the embodiment of the American Dream. His insecure grasp of social and human values, his lack of critical intelligence and self-knowledge, his blindness to the pitfalls that surround him in American society, his compulsive optimism are realized in the text with rare assurance and understanding (Bewley 245). However, they also state that Gatsby shows faith in the goodness of life and its opportunities.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby explores how materialism and social class impact individual identity and aspirations, offering a stinging indictment of the Jazz Age American Dream. Fitzgerald explores the nuances of riches, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness in 1920s America through the lives of Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, and Tom and Daisy Buchanan. The Great Gatsby uncovers the effects of a society defined by materialism and social inequality by showing the American Dream as an illusion that conceals more profound realities about identity and self-worth. The book highlights the moral deterioration and disappointment that come with the unrelenting chase of wealth and prestige by examining social class differences, wealth, and people's pursuit of the American
Since the early colonization of America, the American dream has been the ultimate symbol for success. In retrospect, the dreamer desires to become wealthy, while also attaining love and high class. Though the dream has had different meanings in time, it is still based on individual freedom, and a desire for greatness. During the 19th century, the typical goal was to settle in the West and raise a family. However, the dream progressively transformed into greediness and materialism during the early 20th century. The indication of success soon became focused on wealth and luxury. The Great Gatsby is a story focused on the deterioration of the American dream. Throughout the novel, Jay Gatsby is shown with a desire to achieve his dream by all means. Utilizing the Roaring Twenties as part of his satire, Fitzgerald criticizes the values of the American dream, and the effects of materialism on one’s dream.