American Pipe Dreams
For hundreds of years, a single idea has been representative of this country - the American Dream. The exact meaning of this dream varies from person to person, but in general the goal is always happiness. Of course, this idea of is not unique to just one country; throughout the world, the idea of fulfillment and success is a driving force in people’s lives. Unfortunately, this ambition can also have devastating results in some cases. As a result, it has become a common idea in literature and other media, since it is such a common aspect of the human experience. For example, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is a major theme. However, some interpret his view of the dream as negative,
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Ultimately, the American Dream can be blamed for Jay Gatsby’s downfall. His own American Dream was what motivated him throughout the novel, and eventually led to his death. The narrator, Nick, says that Gatsby’s dream was “already behind him, somewhere back in the vast obscurity beyond the city” (Fitzgerald 180). Gatsby’s ambition causes him to overlook what he already has, and he is never truly happy since his wild dreams keep him from seeing the truth. His dedication to his personal American Dream has made him far more successful than most people with such humble origins could ever imagine, but his achievements have only increased his yearning for what he cannot have. In regards to his relationship with Daisy, Gatsby reaction is “‘Can’t repeat the past? he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can’” (Fitzgerald 110)! Daisy has become an instrumental part of his fantasy, and this aspect of it only ends up hurting everyone involved in the end. In fact, it could be argued that his obsession with her was selfish; not only does he completely disregard her situation and family, his …show more content…
The lifestyle that Gatsby has been able to live is extravagant and likely highly desirable for many people. His parties are described as huge and incredibly costly, and people love them (Fitzgerald 39 - 41). He is able to have fun with his wealth, and use it for whatever he pleases. It is not entirely selfish, either, since others also seem to be enjoying it. Admittedly, his achievements are admirable, especially considering where he started. Gatsby’s origin was not nearly as lavish as his current lifestyle. His parents are described as “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people” and he “never really accepted them as his parents at all” (Fitzgerald 98). When he was young, he was never happy with his life. Although he has never quite been pleased with it, his situation has given him a drive to succeed and, more importantly, hope. Even without anything left for him, he still strives to reach higher. His dream lets him stay optimistic through extreme hardships, up until the end of his life. After the disaster where Daisy rejects him and Myrtle is killed, Gatsby does not give up hope in the woman he loves (Fitzgerald 148). Truthfully, she was never going to come back to him, but the simple thought that she would gave him a last glimmer of happiness. Despite his tragic death, Jay Gatsby may have been able to die happy simply because he never let go of his dream - and the faith that came
The American Dream is nothing new to world. In 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Great Gatsby” which was about a man truly living the “American Dream”. Everything he did though was to achieve wealth. He had elaborate parties in his fabulous house, bought the best of everything, and did whatever he had to do become the best. He started out with nothing and worked his way up by creating a fake life, even the woman he loved most did not know of his past. The woman, Daisy, he loved most was not even in Gatsby’s life, but in the life of another man. Gatsby worked and strived to get everything he had for a married woman who did not even love him. Though Gatsby thought he loved Daisy he only loved the idea of her. Someone who he had a few wonderful moments with, someone who he could see his life spent with. What did he really get out of life though? Wasted years to impress someone who never really mattered when he could have been spending it with someone who could of loved him for who he really was. Who was Gatsby though, no one can e...
The American Dream remains viewed as the success which one obtains. The American Dream has had a great impact on literature as well as an impact on the changing of time periods. The 19th century Transcendentalists’ idea of the American Dream focuses on reaching one’s goals by honest, hard work. On the other hand, Gatsby’s idea of the American Dream in the 20th century centers on becoming successful by way of illegal money that was not acquired through working. Ultimately, the Transcendental and Gatsby’s beliefs reveal a great deal of contrast.
Gatsby's tragic loss of the American dream has to do with his toxic quest to fall in love with daisy “When he kissed her, She blossomed for hints like a flower and the incarnation was complete. In Daisy, Gatsby's meretricious dream was made
The American Dream offers opportunity, equality, liberty, and social mobility to those who have lost their place, such as immigrants, African Americans, and white males with little wealth. This national ethos can supposedly be achieved through hard work, and determination with few social barriers. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrates the unreachable American Dream that so many have stopped fighting for. While the American dream may theoretically promise equality for all, social status will either hinder or improve an individual 's chances of success. Through rhetorical strategies such as imagery, symbolism, and diction, Fitzgerald’s interpretation of the American Dream is developed.
The idea and definition of the American dream has been continually changing based on culture and time period. Many people classify it as the big house, with the white picket fence, the kids playing in the yard and a happy spouse. With this perception many believe this dream comes without struggle but in the novel The Great Gatsby, the characters emphasize that the hard ships don’t always make the American dream as dreamlike as others recognize. In a quote said by Craig L. Thomas, he states “You stuff somebody into the American dream and it becomes a prison.” For many characters the lifestyle they lead others to believe was so perfect was actually a nightmare that they could not wake up from.
People from all around the world have dreamed of coming to America and building a successful life for themselves. The "American Dream" is the idea that, through hard work and perseverance, the sky is the limit in terms of financial success and a reliable future. While everyone has a different interpretation of the "American Dream," some people use it as an excuse to justify their own greed and selfish desires. Two respected works of modern American literature, The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman, give us insight into how the individual interpretation and pursuit of the "American Dream" can produce tragic results.
Gatsby’s Ambition In the book The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author uses the setting and the characterization to build an idea of personal ambition to display Jay Gatsby’s ambition throughout the book. The author uses the characterization of Daisy and Dan Cody and the setting of East Egg and West Egg to show the relationship they have with Gatsby. Jay Gatsby’s ambition throughout the book is to achieve what he calls the American Dream. His vision of the American Dream is to become the wealthiest and be accepted by his society and have the woman he loves, Daisy, beside him the whole time. Gatsby is a man who would do anything within his power to accomplish this American Dream.
The American Dream is a concept that has been wielded in American Literature since its beginnings. The ‘American Dream’ ideal follows the life of an ordinary man wanting to achieve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The original goal of the American dream was to pursue freedom and a greater good, but throughout time the goals have shifted to accumulating wealth, high social status, etc. As such, deplorable moral and social values have evolved from a materialistic pursuit of happiness. In “Advertising the American Dream: Making Way for Modernity”, Roland Marchand describes a man that he believed to be the prime example of a 1920’s man. Marchand writes, “Not only did he flourish in the fast-paced, modern urban milieu of skyscrapers, taxicabs, and pleasure- seeking crowds, but he proclaimed himself an expert on the latest crazes in fashion, contemporary lingo, and popular pastimes.” (Marchand) This description shows material success as the model for the American Dream. In his novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald reveals the characterization of his characters through the use of symbols and motifs to emphasize the corruption of the American Dream.
No two people are going to share the exact same goals, and while many people’s dreams run along the same pathways towards security, money, love, and companionship, the route by which to get there and the destination should be left entirely to the dreamer. By creating an institution such as the American Dream, goals become oversimplified. The American dream boils happiness down into two or three facets, which everyone seems to try desperately to conform to, but people cannot be told what to like. As conformists, though, everyone will attempt to seem perfectly happy with a lot they never chose as they live a dream they never wanted. Nothing showcases this more clearly than the rampant unhappiness of the characters in The Great Gatsby. None of the people the world would consider ‘successful’ end the novel happy; instead they are left either emotionally hollow or entirely dead. Their failure at achieving real and true happiness is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s way of criticizing the relentless pursuit of a phony American
America has been labeled "The land of opportunity," a place where it is possible to accomplish anything and everything. This state of mind is known as "The American Dream." The American Dream provides a sense of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. This dream, however, originates from a desire for spiritual and material improvement. Unfortunately, the acquisition of material has been tied together with happiness in America. Although "The American Dream" can be thought of as a positive motivation, it often causes people to strive for material perfection, rather than a spiritual one. This has been a truth since the beginnings of America, such as the setting of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, which is an example of this set in the 20’s. The characters in this novel are too fixed on material things, losing sight of what is really important.
Jay Gatsby believes he can buy happiness. For example, Gatsby's house is “ A factual imitation of some Hotel De Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden” (The Great Gatsby 9). His house is nothing more than an perfect symbol of his vast income. Gatsby uses the house in an attempt to win happiness and respect from his peers. Furthermore, Gatsby also tries to impress others with such unimportant possessions as his clothing, as when Daisy emotionally comments, ”beautiful shirts… It makes me sad because I have never seen such beautiful shirts before”(98). Crying over articles of clothing is outrageous, yet it is not the shirts that overwhelm Daisy. Their symbolism of Gatsby’s unlimited wealth and faith in money is truly saddening. Also, Gatsby realizes that Daisy’s main and only concern in life is money. Gatsby pursues immoral and often illegal actions in pursuit of wealth, subconsciou...
Ambition is an important aspect in life. It allows people to develop goals and to strive for something that will benefit them such as a position of power or reuniting with a past lover once again. However, becoming obsessively determined on one objective can lead to negative consequences, even death. In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the protagonist Jay Gatsby is a wealthy man who is in love with Daisy, a past lover. Gatsby’s main ambition is to gain Daisy’s love back. Therefore, he becomes rich and tries to impress her, but she is now married to another rich man by the name of Tom, which she now loves instead of Gatsby. In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Macbeth a scottish general, receives a prophecy from
Riveting writes comments on this dream when they state “His desires not only for Daisy, but to fit into an uncompromising society that he so desperately wants to be part of” (riveting writes). Here, Riveting writes is commenting on the Gatsby’s need for the American Dream that forces him to do anything possible to get that dream. Clearly, Gatsby’s need for this dream leads him blindly through life, which creates a horrible ending for Jay Gatsby. Glenway farther comments on this dream when he quotes Chase saying, “Since in Nick’s eyes Gatsby is already redeemed as ‘an idealist who is compelled to a meretricious way of life in order to realise his dream in society obsessed with money”(Glenday, 68) (Chase, 114). Through Nick’s eyes, Gatsby is victimized by his meretricious ways because he strives for his American Dream. Riveting writes goes on to say, “His victimisation becomes particularly visible at the end when nobody apart from Nick attends his funeral. Even in his last moments he cannot fulfil the dream he spent his entire life trying to achieve.”(Riveting writes). Riveting Writes farther this explanation when they state, “The irony that throughout his adult life he was surrounded by thousands of people during his frequent parties, and yet in death he was alone, emphasises his victimisation further” (Riveting Writes).Riveting writes, here, talks about
Jay Gatsby’s dream became corrupted by money and dishonesty. Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and social standing defined his greatness. Ironically, it was this perceived importance which became his downfall. He gained money and social riches, and the obsession with Daisy continued. Gatsby presents an image of a classy, fun-loving and generous man, but in reality, he is lonely, vulnerable and unhappy. He even felt it necessary to make up his entire identity. Gatsby’s dream of life with Daisy is beyond his reach and unattainable.
“The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. The American Dream, a long-standing ideal, embodies the hope that one can achieve financial success, political power, and everlasting love through dedication and hard work. During the Roaring 20s, people in America put up facades to mask who they truly were. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald conveys that the American Dream is simply an illusion, that is idealist and unreal.