What Is The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

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“The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” is written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the focuses of this story is on the American dream. The American dream is understood to be true happiness and the perfect life. In this story that is not the case. F. Scott Fitzgerald is saying that the materialistic side of the American is based on corruption and having people think that they do not have to work to achieve anything. The corruption side of the American dream is seen numerous times throughout the story. The lengths that Braddock Washington goes through to protect the diamond is astonishing. He has the property off every map and it is hidden in the mountains of Montana. Braddock also says that this property has never been surveyed. He even goes to the extent of keeping anyone who comes to the house in a glass lined cage (Gado 2) and ultimately killing the ones who find out about the diamond. (Dane 5) When Percy Washington and John Unger first meet one of the first things Percy says to John is “My father is by far the richest man in the world.” John was taken back by this statement and thought that “such an astounding statement could scarcely be questioned.” (Fitzgerald 2) Meaning you could question Percy and ask how his father is richest man in the world and what did he do to deserve that title. This shows you how much it can …show more content…

Braddock even goes to the extent of bribing God with his riches. With that Fitzgerald was showing that with money and power you can gain a mindset that you are possibly greater or equal to God Himself. (Dane 6) Which we know is not ever going to happen. Untrue happiness, however is found in this version of the American dream. You are not ever truly happy, you are crushed inside. The real authentic American dream that can be attained by anyone who becomes successful and works hard for it will be able to say that they truly achieved their goal of the American

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