What Is The Failure Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Roger L. Pearson Defines the American Dream as “ the belief that every man, whatever his origins, may pursue and attain his chosen goals be they political monetary or social” (Pearson 638). With the stock market boom of the 1920’s came the rise of the American Dream. America was the land of opportunity and prosperity, and Scott F. Fitzgerald demonstrates the results of this changing time period in his 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. Although some regard Jay Gatsby as the poster boy for the American Dream, Pearson portrays Gatsby as the failure of the American Dream through his inability to obtain his personal goals. The chosen goal Gatsby pursued was Daisy Buchanan, his old flame, now married to another man. Though Gatsby seemed to be winning Daisy over, the immense wealth and reputation he sought to impress Daisy failed, and she remained with her husband, Tom. Pearson argues how Gatsby aimed to recapture Daisy by “recapturing the past,” but he then describes his failure: “the rejected and soon to be betrayed Gatsby stands alone under Daisy’s window, keeping a vain vigil over his shattered dream” (Pearson 642). On the other hand, one could argue that Gatsby had obtained his American Dream for a brief period that summer– when Daisy was effectively won over and he was relishing in his prosperity. However, he was quickly awakened to the

Gatsby believed that monetary success would bring him companionship, but this was disproved when none of his so called friends attended his funeral. Gatsby was used for his lavish parties, “but ultimately his congregation of party-goers [deserted] him” (Pearson 642). Some may argue that Gatsby was able to make one friend, Nick Carraway, but even if Nick organized and attended Gatsby's funeral, this was only out of obligation. Nick, like many others, felt the need to distance himself from the destructive atmosphere that surrounded Jay Gatsby even after his