The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

1052 Words3 Pages

The concept of one’s journey to reach the so called "American Dream" has served as the central theme for many novels. However, in the novel The Great Gatsby, the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays the American Dream as so opulent it is unrealistic and unreachable. The American Dream is originally about obtaining happiness, but by the 1920's, this dream has become twisted into a desire for fame and fortune by whatever means; mistaken that wealth will bring happiness. Fitzgerald illustrates that the more people reach toward the idealistic American dream, the more they lose sight of what makes them happy, which sends the message that the American dream is unattainable. The continuos yearning for extravagance and wealthy lifestyles has become detrimental to Gatsby and many other characters in the novel as they continue to remain incorrigible in an era of decayed social and moral values, pursuing an empty life of pleasure instead of seeking happiness. GATSBYS DREAM “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. And then one fine morning— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” (180). Situated at the end of Daisy’s East Egg dock and barely visible from Gatsby’s West Egg lawn, the green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby associates it with Daisy, and in Chapter 1 he reaches toward it in the darkness as a guiding light to lead him to his goal. Fitzgerald illustrates Daisy as a symbol of wealth, success, dreams, beauty, marriage, motherhood, and she ultimately encompasses the idealistic American Dream. However, t... ... middle of paper ... ...sm is obvious when Nick and Gatsby try to distinguish the charm in Daisy's voice. Gatsby says, "Her voice is full of money", and Nicks reaches a revelation about society: "That was it. I'd never understood it before. It was full of money-that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it…. High in a white palace the golden girl…." (120). With this realization Nick finally sees that when Daisy's charm and beauty is stripped away then only an ugly selfish personality is left. He becomes so wrapped up in the drama and parties around him that he looses sight of his original reason for moving out East, which is ultimately one of the reasons why the American Dream is no longer a realistic goal for Nick. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. Three Novels: The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1953. Print.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
377 Words | 1 Pages
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1321 Words | 3 Pages
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1108 Words | 3 Pages
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1422 Words | 3 Pages
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655 Words | 2 Pages
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705 Words | 2 Pages
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997 Words | 2 Pages
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754 Words | 2 Pages
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1859 Words | 4 Pages
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1561 Words | 4 Pages
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1097 Words | 3 Pages
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863 Words | 2 Pages
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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald