Gatsby American Dream Significance

The American Dream is factor that contributes to America’s outstanding legacy. No matter who we are or where we come from, America has an opportunity for us whether it’s graduating from college, working for an elite company, or owning your very own business. The American Dream guarantees immigrants that no matter their ethnicity or no matter their financial status, their life can also have storybook ending that everyone dreams of. It reassures us that if we are willing to put our blood, sweat, and tears into what we are passionate about, we can provide those we love the luxuries they’ve always dreamt of owning, whether if it’s a large home or an expensive car. In Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby, the author acknowledges the American Dream as hope

Like most Americans, Gatsby’s hope is accomplishing his lifelong dream, earning Daisy’s love. Fitzgerald showcases this expectation throughout the novel through the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. Gatsby had always loved Daisy; however, Gatsby was never able to accept that she had loved and married Tom as he states, “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me"(Fitzgerald Chapter 7)! Based on Gatsby’s remarks, he feels that the only reason why Daisy left him was because she wanted to maintain the social class she was born in and continue to be spoiled with the luxuries that an ordinary human being may not be able to enjoy; as a result, Gatsby made it his goal to amass a large amount of wealth and earn the love of Daisy once again. As the novel progresses, Gatsby loses his innocence as he no longer earns his money working as a “clam−digger and a salmon−fisher or in any other capacity that brought him food and bed”(Fitzgerald Chapter 6). However, after Dan Cody passed away, Gatsby was unable to claim the $25,000 left by Cody, thus forcing him to earn his wealth through “the

Fitzgerald refers to the green light across the bay from Gatsby’s mansion which implies that Gatsby has yet to cross that long treacherous path just to get to Daisy. In an attempt to reach the end, Gatsby does things that went against the morals instilled in him at a young age and amasses his wealth by selling drugs and oil instead of working for it like most immigrants in our country do. To depict his message, Fitzgerald portrays Gatsby as a scapegoat and someone who takes the blame for something he did not do in order to be with the love of his life, but in the end realizes that all the years of wrongdoing brought him nowhere. By portraying the consequences of the American Dream, it reminds most immigrants today that the American Dream is not easy to achieve. Many believe that living in America and working an 8 hour shift is going to make them wealthy; however, when he or she experiences the hard work and long hours that are required to be successful, that is when you’re really living the American