The Great Gatsby American Dream Essay

The American Dream refers to the idea that no matter what position a person is in, they have the chance to succeed in life and advance in society. This promotes a striving for prosperity and accomplishing goals through hard work. An individual can achieve their goals through hard work and perseverance. Although most people agree, F. Scott Fitzgerald has a pessimistic view on the American Dream and its improbability of being completed. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, it follows the story of Jay Gatsby and his pursuit of the American Dream. Gatsby’s American Dream is for Daisy to reciprocate his love and devotion for her. When Nick, the narrator of the story, describes Gatsby’s dream, he says, “He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you’” (Fitzgerald PAGE #). Gatsby’s dream never had any hope of accomplishing from the start. Although The Great Gatsby is a work of fiction, Gatsby is not the only example of failed dreams; failed dreams occur in real life as well. This American Dream is harder for some to achieve because of inequality in social classes, unreachable goals, and the insignificance of the work ethic. Social class plays a major role on whether someone’s dreams are possible. Gatsby comes from a poor farming family. As a child, he

TRANSITION. While on his way home, Nick sees Gatsby alone out on his lawn and Nick describes Gatsby’s actions saying, “he stretched out his arms toward the dark water… and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and faraway” (Fitzgerald #). The green light at the end of the dock represents Gatsby’s hope for Daisy and his American Dream. Fitzgerald is portraying through this quote that even though Gatsby can see his dreams right in front of him it is still out of reach. No matter how rich or successful he was he still cannot reach Daisy. TRANSITION. SECONDARY