The American Dream In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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American clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger one said “The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it 's possible to achieve the American dream.” This idea of the “American dream” has been around since the founding and had become a prominent part of American culture and identity. This same idea is what the raved about novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is based around. Jay Gatsby, the protagonist pursues this American dream through his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan and his need to be insanely rich. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby to symbolize the American dream, and uses his rags to riches journey to convey to his readers that the American dream is an extremely dangerous thing to pursue and ultimately impossible After having dinner with his second cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom, Nick returns home to find his neighbor Mr. Gatsby in his yard. Nick says “ [about Gatsby] he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could’ve sworn he was trembling” (21). Nick see’s Gatsby reaching out towards the water, actually at what is right across the sound; the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. The green light represents Gatsby’s own dream throughout the novel; to be with Daisy, but at this moment when he’s reaching for his dream he is depicting the drive and struggle within anyone who has attempted to achieve the American dream. The metaphorical and in this instant literal reaching for the dream that is so close you could nearly touch it if you reached far enough. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s reaching for the green light to symbolize the need to obtain each persons own respective dream, the dream that is said to be easily obtained with hard work and determination. Later Nick finds himself at a party at Gatsby’s, one that only he has been invited to despite the hundreds of guests, he is One day Nick and Gatsby are invited to lunch with Daisy and Tom and the group end up going to the city to escape the bore of the incredible August heat. The heat is causing tensions to rise and at one point Gatsby explodes at Tom saying how Daisy loves him and how she has actually never loved Tom. Tom does not believe a single word and both look to Daisy for approval. When Daisy is unable to choose between the two Tom suggests that they be on their way home. Once Gatsby gets home he anxiously waits for Daisy’s call to confirm that she has explained to Tom how she never loved him and she was ready to be with Gatsby again. Only the call never came. Nick goes to Gatsby’s house to inquire his next move. He narrates “No telephone message arrived, I had the idea that Gatsby himself didn’t believe it would come, and perhaps he no longer cared”(161). This is a colossal turning point in the book because it shows just how impossible the American dream is to achieve. Gatsby, the literal impersonation of the dream has failed to obtain his own dream. The realization that he will never get the call is completely contradictory to his previous belief that he is could not possibly fail with his ability to change the past. Now that Gatsby’s entire life’s work is purposeless his death is easily foreshadowed. Fitzgerald

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