The Truth about The American Dream

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American Dream truth The American dream is something that has been epically built up in the media and in each individual Americans thoughts. To some the American dream is the pursuit of happiness, to others the shallowness of wealth. In the Novel the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and movie Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen, which is based off of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Characters fall short of their own views of the American dream. One of the characters that falls short of the American Dream is Tom Buchanan. Tom is a powerful wealthy man, and much more than that. He is very shallow argent person with little moral values. Which in the end leaves him with a very uncontrollable life. “His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate were slipping precipitately from his control.” (Fitzgerald 131). According to Colin laPenta wealth and power can turn a person into a hallow shell of their former self “Arrogance and unfortunate quality that is often associated with people of power and wealth and Tom Buchanan is no exception.” (LaPenta). As well, Tom Never has really cared about the wellbeing of his fellow man as long as he is safe in his mansion. Also, explained by Matthew Bruccoli “Although it’s hard to choose just one character flaw of Tom Buchanan, the most prevalent one is his cruelness, he believes that money and power gives him the ability to bully others” (Bruccoli). Another character who falls short of the American dream and their own personal dream is Jay Gatsby. Gatsby doesn’t achieve his dreams because he is trying to not look into the future, but instead alter the future to make it like the past relationship with Daisy through wealth and power to be more like her new lover (Tom). “Can’t repe... ... middle of paper ... .... Print. "Definition of American Dream in English:." American Dream: Definition of American Dream in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). Web. 10 Mar. 2014. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925. Print. Gam, Karielle Stephanie. "A Great American Character Analysis: Is Gatsby Indeed Great?"The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 June 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. Smith, Emily Esfahani. "Glamour's False Charm." New Criterion 32.4 (2013): 76-78. Literary Reference Center. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. "The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, Web. 07 Mar. 2014. Witkoski, Michael. "The Great Gatsby." Magill’S Survey Of American Literature, Revised Edition (2006): 1-2. Literary Reference Center. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.

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