Consequences Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

The competition amongst big business where the wealth accumulated in the hands of the few bashed the poor into heavy poverty in the Valley of Ashes, whereas the sumptuously stylish men and women of West and East Egg lived according to the fantasy of the American Dream birthed in the Gilded age, so they cease to catch sight of anything beyond the money and success that the Gilded Age is known for. Fitzgerald’s basic exegesis of this platonic world is reflected through the eyes of James Gatz who creates a million-dollar platonic from of himself named Jay Gatsby in hopes of winning the heart of his long love, Daisy Buchanan. Instead of rekindling the relationship with the woman of his dreams, he woefully sacrifices his truth for a lie and falls victim to the illusions of the American Dream. Nevertheless, the sun represents the blissful side of the American Dream, which Gatsby--and most characters--identify with due to its great magnitude (like the sun’s size); in contrast, most

During the 1920s, people lost vast amounts of money due to the stock market crash. Since the story of The Great Gatsby takes place around the Great Depression, an era where the loss of money became the epitome of people who desperately needed it the most. However, people who were a part of the wealthier social classes, such as Gatsby, infinitely spent money on fancy cars, a mansion, and especially his giant parties. All of those things are all for Daisy, and the life Gatsby lived all started out because of her. She became the main reason why he lived such a rich lifestyle.

“This is a valley of ashes - a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the form of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (Chapter 2, 23). Symbolizing the working class, it is written with negative connotation using words such as, “grotesque" and “crumbling”. Ashes are usually the color grey, which helps to understand the valley of ashes is an unpleasant place to live as grey symbolizes lifelessness. The valley of ashes is the end result of risking one’s life for the American Dream. In addition, people who live in the valley of ashes show “transcendent effort” stressing that hard work does not pay off; the American Dream is a deception.

The Sufficiency of the American Dreamt6g Mahatma Gandhi once argued, “There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.” The American Dream evolves into the idea where nothing is ever enough, and you always strive for more, but rarely achieve it. The 1920s dealt an economic boom full of wealth and greed across America. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s post-war novel The Great Gatsby, excess of wealth is a central theme. Jay Gatsby has made himself millions and is always seeking more, but never seems to find that ultimate source of contentment. He never lacks what is necessary, only what he wants.

The Valley of Ashes, where the poor live, is described as a “desolate area of land ... [where] spasms of bleak dust drift endlessly” (Fitzgerald 23). The poor people are trapped here, and no matter how hard they work, they can never escape this grim existence. The idea of no social mobility, and having no control over one's life, reflects the Naturalist view of society. Nick Carraway and Gatsby live in “West Egg, the -- well, the less fashionable of the two” (Fitzgerald 5). West Egg is the area where the self-made men and women,

Gatsby envy's Tom and Daisy and wishes that she would be his. Which I believe would have eventually happened if he hadn't been killed. Fitzgerald made Gatsby so rich and unhappy because he is similar to him he has money and chases this woman whom he cannot be acquainted with. Nick is an honest, observative,and down to earth, and snobby, type of guy. Who moved from the Midwest to West egg

Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, reflects the jaded attitudes of the lost generation and the novel proves to be a criticism of America’s aristocracy and the excess of lavish living and lack of morality that overcame people during the 1920s. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a Midwestern guy who represents the lost generations aversion to materialism and decadence, and Carraway tells the story of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby was one of the top socialites in New York and would throw huge extravagant parties in his huge mansion; he represented the American Dream, coming from humble beginnings Gatsby serves in the Great War and worked his way into wealth so he can live a better life and impress the love of his life, Daisy. The story is filled with adultery, excess drinking during the time of Prohibition, and greed. The frivolous and unrestrained living that the majority of the characters participated in reflected sentiments about the Lost Generation’s lost identity and inability to find a purpose in life or to have goals to strive towards; morality was cast aside and self-indulgence was most important during this time.

All of these people in the book who are rich and wealthy that live this dream are really bad people. Deep down the people of the upper class are hollow. They don't care about anyone or anything but themselves. These other rich people have everything just like Gatsby does. But they aren't happy at all.

Starting way back when in the 1920’s we see Fitzgerald take a stand with his book The Great Gatsby. This book is the perfect description and view point of the American dream in this time. Jay Gatsby was a poor child. Gatsby worked hard and made a life for himself in his giant house and billion parties. This was the American dream by wealth, popularity, and materialism.

Daisy got caught up in the worldly things and ended up living a miserable life with a husband who cheated and whom she no longer loved. She strived for the life that was typically the american dream, by marrying up and living a life full of wealth and comfort. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. . .

Americans have dreams; many are straightforward, while others are more complex, so what really is a standard American dream for both man and woman. In The Great Gatsby the characters that are old money looked down on Gatsby because he is new money and in their eyes they are better than Gatsby. When we come to think about it, this is very true because even if the American dream is what they crave in life, they have forbidden themselves from it due to their characteristics. Gatsby is new money, however he is still very careless just like Tom along with Daisy. Gatsby’s dream is to see Daisy so he makes big parties every weekend expecting to see Daisy someday.