Withering of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby Essay

Withering of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the degradation of the American dream through the loss of humility and rectitude. The American Dream, which remains till today, bases itself upon assiduousness and high morals. Many people from foreign and faraway countries view this dream as a reality and believe that America upholds these high standards. Yet, Fitzgerald clearly writes this novel to show that the linchpin that kept the dream alive has eroded away. America, known as the land of opportunity, promises a comfortable life to all those who work honestly and diligently. Yet Gatsby, a key player in The Great Gatsby, earns his money through bootlegging and†¦show more content†¦Tom, from the onset of the novel, partook in a relationship with Mrs. Wilson, and even rented themselves a small apartment as a reprieve from their families and previous lifestyles. He often dined in restaurants with her and even took Nick to see Mrs. Wilson who he referred to as my girl. In contrast, the first immigrants from Europe to America were the Puritans and they established the status quo for the American Dream. They set high moral and civil duties, and if anyone failed to abide by these regulations they were excommunicated from the society. On the other hand Daisy, Gatsby, and Nick all involve themselves in these activities and still retain their paramount positions in their milieu. Daisy and Gatsby take a more prosaic and practicable ap proach to their affair. They meet at parties and invite each other as dinner guests. Daisy, Tom and Mrs. Wilson all being married people, partook in this picayune, garish, and flippant lifestyle and ended up causing their loved ones pain and anguish. But because of this time period, the 1920s, in which new and unprecedented ideas were the norm, people hurtled from the old traditional ways and etched themselves a place in society by getting involved in iridescent lifestyles. Womens rights acquired an austere and cognizant determination and would not settle for complacency. In addition, peopleShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1355 Words   |  6 PagesMost define the American Dream as an equal opportunity for all to achieve success through handwork and determination. Many define success as having or gaining wealth and power. This isn t true for the novel The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Instead Fitzgerald represents the withering of the American Dream , in the novel the American Dream is presented more as a overpowering idea of aspirations far from reach, making it less of a dream and more of a distant thought. 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Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby Essay1190 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The main theme of the novel â€Å"The Great Gatsby† focuses on the American Dream and it is portrayed through the life of Jay Gatsby. Through Gatsby’s life we see the withering of the American Dream, a tragedy that struck Jay’s near finished dream. The American Dream is what many have hoped of achieving, it has existed in the past and is in the present. The American Dream gives people a goal that they can work towards, it also gives them a purpose in life. The American Dream representsRead More The American Dream in F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby1134 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream in F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a brilliant illustration of life among the new rich during the 1920s, people who had recently amassed a great deal of wealth but had no corresponding social connections. The novel is an intriguing account about love, money and life during the 1920s in New York. It illustrates the society and the associated beliefs, values and dreams of the American population at that time. These beliefsRead MoreLuxuries and Love in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay1197 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream is an ideal that has been in existence since the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. Normally, the lower citizen yearns to rise from rags to riches, while obtaining such luxuries as love, high social status, and political/economic power on his or her way to the top. This dream has undergone various changes since its creation, however it is generally founded on ideas, of freedom, independence, and the desire of something greater . Early colonists’ desire to travel West