Pursuing The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Nothing More Than a Dream

The Great American Dream. What a beautiful ring it has. Is it just that-- a dream-- or is it much more? We’ve all heard about chasing the American Dream. We’ve also heard the question of its legitimacy. The longer this country stands, the more doubt we have that the Dream is reachable. Although some people can find great opportunities in America, the American Dream is unattainable.
Americans want too much, in other words they dream too big. The ones chasing the American Dream want bigger and better. As time goes on America becomes more materialistic. Because of that, the American Dream is evolving. Instead of being financially stable they must be wealthy. Rather than pursuing happiness, they need to have physical things that will ensure our happiness. It seems that there’s no end to the list of things they want that they didn’t worry about before. When they achieve all their goals they don’t feel satisfied and they decide it’s not enough. Eventually, the expectations of their dreams are too high and reality can’t keep up. In “The Great Gatsby”, Gatsby had money, parties, and just about

anything else that people work towards. However, there was one thing left that he thought he couldn’t live without- Daisy. His obsession to have it all tore Gatsby apart both mentally and emotionally. In the end it even cost him his life.
People are vulnerable to the plotting of others. Those trying to follow their dreams are especially at risk. The lazy and spiteful take advantage of other people’s hard work. They deceive the people that try to make a better life for themselves. Afterwards, the hard working individual is left with little or nothing. In “The Pearl”, the pearl buyers conspire against Kino. They try to cheat him by telling him that his pearl is valueless. They offer Kino very little for it so they can profit as much as possible. Kino has spent years of his life in hopes of finding such a magnificent pearl. When he finally does he is swindled out of his well deserved reward.
It is a fair assumption that the nation’s minorities-- destitute or non-caucasian individuals-- are some of the people most likely to pursue the American Dream. However, society is generally unaccepting of them, even in America where minority groups are common. Because of this, they are at a disadvantage despite whatever achievements they have. They are evaluated by the things they have no control over rather than the things they can control. Furthermore, if they don’t try to conform to the majority of the population they are thought of as even more inferior than before. In “The Pearl”, the doctor despises the natives and the poor. He ignores their requests for help because he think’s he’s better than them. In “The Great Gatsby”, Gatsby lies about his past because he knows how cruel people can be and understands he has a better chance at acceptance this way.
You could point out countless examples that the American Dream is alive and well.

Like someone starting from nothing, then gaining fame or wealth. It seems as if they are happy with their lives but they too often are dissatisfied. From an outsider’s perspective you could say Gatsby achieved the American Dream. He certainly started with nothing; growing up poor and yearning for a better life. He indeed became wealthy and reasonably famous around New York. However, Gatsby still felt as if he had nothing. He lived with discontent and longing for the one thing he wanted in life, his true love. People may be close to attaining the American Dream but there will always be compromise, or a battle to remain on top, or an outside force trying to lessen the value of what you have. There will always be something that goes wrong to prevent attaining the American

Dream.
The American Dream is, at best, at arms length from those trying to attain it. There will always be some form of discontent with one’s present accomplishments which produces an endless chase. Hard-working individuals must guard their earnings from those who cheat and steal. Society makes it difficult for those starting with nothing to work for a better life. America may bring more opportunities than other places but the American Dream itself will always be just steps ahead of those who chase it.