The Corruption of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby

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On April 10, 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby, a novel that would later become one of the best known pieces of classic literature in history. However, at the time of its publication, Gatsby was fairly unpopular ad the reviews were never consistent. As shocking as it may seem, I believe it is because Fitzgerald’s intelligence and creativity levels were way ahead of his time, which is evident when one pays close attention to the themes of the novel. Forgiveness, love, and memory of the past are just a few themes you will come across in this story. Aside from these, there is one other theme that is much more dominant and could possibly have been the cause of The Great Gatsby’s slight lack of initial success. It is the basis of everything the characters in the novel do as well as everything they feel. It is what they use to justify their actions, and it is what everyone longs for. This theme is better known as the American dream.The Great Gatsby is representative of the American dream in multiple ways. There are some aspects of the novel that symbolize the overall corruption of the American dream; there are others that signify the love of wealth, and the division of rich and poor. What exactly is the American dream? The American dream can be described as an idea, a concept, and a way of life. It can even be described as a form of ignorance. According to SinišaSmiljanić, some people say it is the search for wealth, prosperity and a higher social status. Others feel it is basically having a good life- settling down and being able to provide for their family. All of these ideas can be accredited to the fundamental idea of the American dream. Robert L. Pearson sums up the American dream as the bel... ... middle of paper ... .... Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925. Great Gatsby and the Fall of the American Dream, The. . “Great Gatsby American Dream Essay”. 2013. May 2013. . Pearson, Robert L. “Gatsby: False Prophet of the American Dream”. The English Journal Vol. 59, No. 5. May 1970: 638-645 Saveriano, Jerry W. World’s Fairs- Back To the Future. 2014. December 2010. . Smiljanić, Siniša. The American Dream in the Great Gatsby. 2013. April 2011. . SparkNotes Editors. Sparknote on The Great Gatsby. 2002. 13 Jan 2014 .

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