What Is The Idea Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a story about a young man named Nick Carraway who, upon his move to New York, is thrown into the world of corruption, adultery, bootlegging and lies lived by his neighbors and even distant family. Nick moves next door to an elusive character named Jay Gatsby, who throws lavish parties and gaudily displays his wealth all in order to win over a woman named Daisy Buchanan. Daisy, Nick’s cousin, lives just across the Bay and is married to a wealthy, high-class man named Tom Buchanan who comes from old money. Tom is cheating on Daisy with a low-class woman named Myrtle Wilson who dreams of being with Tom and rising into the life Tom leads. Gatsby is influenced by the idea of The American Dream; the idea

Once he becomes rich, however, nothing turns out the way he expects it. He and Daisy have a brief affair before Gatsby is faced with the cold reality that Daisy will never pick him, and that his dream was a failure. After taking great lengths to try to prove to Daisy that he is worth it, including taking the fall for killing Myrtle in a hit in run, Gatsby is left disappointed, and Myrtles husband, George Wilson, ends up shooting and killing Gatsby for the murder of his wife. The irony of the story lies in the fact that Gatsby risked everything to go after a dream that was never going to come true. Fitzgerald suggests that attempting to achieve The American Dream through corrupt and dishonest measures can lead to the destruction of lives and

Gatsby’s only reason for attempting to chase The American Dream was all to possess Daisy. When Gatsby had met Daisy all those years ago he was immediately ensnared in her, and knew that the only thing that would ever matter in his life was her. “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay” (78). Gatsby’s life, from the time he met her to the present, was influenced by Daisy because she was all he wanted. Marilyn Roberts, a professor at Waynesburg College, says, “Gatsby may be more creative and romantic in pursuit of the American Dream…because he does all for the sake of a woman” (Roberts 6). For Gatsby, The American Dream has absolutely nothing to do with making a better life for himself or becoming powerful, but all to do with the fact that if he wants absolutely any chance at being with the woman of his dreams he must rise from rags to riches. Daisy was never going to choose Gatsby despite all of his efforts, because she will never leave her lavish and seemingly perfect life for him. Daisy, while she may not be totally and completely happy, is living out her dream and Gatsby was never and will never be a part of