The Influence Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

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The Great Gatsby takes place in the 1920’s which is also known as the Jazz Age. During this time, society functions under the influence of pursuing the American Dream, but only a few are capable to live it. People during this time period consists of huge hopes and dreams for improvement of themselves that could also be mistaken by greed. The American Dream is when someone from the bottom class has been working their way up becoming very successful. The main goal was to show off a great quantity money, luxurious cars, a big house, etc. However, The American Dream lifestyle was also inherited by family. Although the American Dream was earned by hard work and dedication, the characters in The Great Gatsby showed their materialistic ways to pursue this dream. The Great Gatsby is based on a young man named Nick Carraway from East Egg who moves to the West Egg hoping for a better offer on his career. He then realizes he is neighbors with the wealthiest man in West Egg, Jay Gatsby. After becoming friends with Gatsby and …show more content…

Myrtle, Gatsby, and Daisy were all affected by this. Myrtle is a married woman, but is not satisfied with her life as Wilson’s wife. Wilson does not provide to her standards which is to have the luxurious life Myrtle desires. Myrtle’s materialism is well known, and nothing will stop her from having it all. Myrtle has high hopes to gain a wealthy and famous life. She knows all the city’s gossip and will do almost anything to learn what’s new. The aspiration to have a luxurious life is what causes Myrtle to have an affair with Tom. The movie foreshadows the affair when Myrtle calls Tom during dinner with his family. As this affair continued, everyone in the city (including Daisy) knew about it, yet no one said a word Daisy simply described herself as a fool. Though Myrtle got her way, it was ironic how Daisy was the person who accidently killed Myrtle due to their history and her affair with

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