The American Dream in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerlad

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Everyone in America has their own American Dream. These dreams may vary from having a family or becoming a rich business person. The American dream was strongest in our country during the start of the 1920's. America was just beginning to triumph over poverty. People were becoming more successful as a country. Carrie Latet once said, "May I never wake up from the American dream." Along with Carrie, this was the wish of the vast majority of America. In 1929, the Great Depression hit and many Americans did have to wake up from their dream of success.

The Great Gatsby, a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerlad, took place during the Roaring Twenties. The main character of this novel was a man named Jay Gatsby. Fitzgerald used Gatsby's life as a microcosm of America during the 1920's. Like most of America,

Gatsby had a dream. His dream was to become a part of the wealthy class of society. This dream that Gatsby had was realistic. Whenever a person dreams a dream, it can always be done if they go about it the correct way. However, Gatsby did not go about his dream the right way. He did become wealthy, but that made him lonely. Because of his wealth, he was not able to tell who his true friends were. People only pretended to be Gatsby's friend so that they would get invited to his extravagant parties. On the outside, it appears that Gatsby had accomplished his dream. If you look closer, you will realize that he did not truly accomplish his dream. If a person accomplishes their dream, but they are not happy with it, I don't think that counts as fulfilling a dream.

Growing up Gatsby was poor. Since he was a child, he would dream of being a member of the wealthy class. Young Gatsby swore to himself that someday he would be rich. S...

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...there was an explosion of this great country’s morale in the Roaring Twenties.

Geraldine Ferraro’s statement, “If you take advantage of everything America has to offer, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish,” is a vague but applicable description of Gatsby’s dream. He wanted to take advantage of everything there was in this great country, because he had been denied it his entire life. Americans wanted just the same. Prior to the end of World War one it was all for one and one for all, but during the 1920’s it seemed to be all for me and none for you. We all have our own dreams, whether they be to be rich, famous, own a business or to have a family, Gatsby had his dreams and we have ours. Sometimes, when we want something so badly we forget who we are and the morals and values we were raised upon. This happened to the American people in the 1920’s and to Jay Gatsby.

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