Reality In The Great Gatsby

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In the literary classic The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it is evident that the obsessive pursuit of unattainable dreams can alter ones perception of truth and reality. The story that Fitzgerald narrates is one of a lavish 1920s lifestyle in which all the characters are obsessed with his or her dream, and desperately tries to achieve in throughout the novel. As the story progresses, we find out some dreams are not worth the pain of not living in the present through the objects that represent larger meanings and disputes between characters and themselves. In the novel through conflict and symbolism Fitzgerald shows how if one gets too caught up in dreams, one will stray far from reality which will lead to their ultimate downfall. Fitzgerald …show more content…

When Gatsby became wealthy through bootlegging, he bought a house directly across the bay from Daisy's house. At the end of Daisy's dock there is a green light which he is often see gazing at. Fitzgerald uses the green light to symbolize his dream. He uses the color green as a symbol of hope, his dream, and 'go'. However when Daisy and Gatsby reunite "There must have been moment even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams- not through her own fault , but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion" (Fitzgerald 95). Daisy does not live up to Gatsby's expectations because he placed her on such a high pedestal, regardless he still attempts to live out his fantasies. Gatsby devoted all his time and money to appeal to Daisy. He became a bootlegger to become rich and moves right across Daisy's house. In the end his dreams did not live up to his expectations because he has such high expectations and he has nothing because he wasted all of his time chasing a dreams that could never be attained due to his social standing. When Gatsby and Daisy are driving back from New York City they are still angry from the fight that occurred at the hotel between Tom and Gatsby over Daisy. Gatsby and Daisy are driving in a car through The Valley of Ashes to get back to Long Island when Mrytle runs out into the road to the car that she believes is Tom's "It was the man in that car. She ran out to speak to him and he wouldn't stop" (Fitzgerald 159). Daisy driving, runs Mrytle over, killing her in the process as Daisy drives off without batting an eye. The use of the death car shows how chasing after unattainable dreams can lead to misery. Mrytle was chasing her dream of living the aristocratic lifestyle when she is run over by the Rolls Royce. Her dreams quite literally crushing

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