For the past two hundred years, Benjamin Franklin has been regarded as one of the most renowned Founding Fathers of the United States, and the true creator of the “American Dream.” Throughout his life, Franklin focused himself on characteristics that he knew would not only better himself but improve the budding nation. A few of the traits of Ben Franklin’s “American” are philanthropy, tolerance, and perseverance. Although they may seem wholesome, each trait can also have ulterior motives when a person is portraying them. When he begins his writings to his son, William, Franklin recounts the pivotal moments in his past that shaped him to be who he was meant to be, and even though he admits that he wishes he could change some slight details, he is mostly content with his choices.
The Great Gatsby, written in 1924 by F. Scott Fitzgerald, in my opinion, focused on the American Dream and the problems with that vision. In contrast to all the other themes of the book, it seemed to be rather uplifting on the surface but when you look into the details it can paint a pretty disgusting picture of the American Dream in the 1920’s chiefly and the American Dream for all Americans throughout time in general. In the following, I will be discussing the American Dream in a whole over the course of the entire novel, using a specific quotation, and focusing on Gatsby. As we focus on the American Dream in the Great Gatsby, we must look in general across the entire book. We really first start to see foreshadowing to this theme in the second Chapter with George Wilson and Myrtle Wilson, one making a living as a mechanic/gas station operator, the other making money by being in an affair with Tom respectively.
The American dream has been defined as “the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity” (Dictionary). There were many conflicts that characters encountered when trying to achieve their own American dream. Each character had their own specific dream, Jay Gatsby especially. Daisy, Jay Gatsby’s love, had an impact on his life, which led to the failure of his own American dream. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby almost lived out his American dream by finding the love of his life and almost fulfilling his dream to be with Daisy forever.
Throughout The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, many characters have differing views on the topic of the American Dream, some including Nick Carraway, James Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan. They range in views of a dream revolved around money and pride, and a life full of love and success. Yet, it is not possible for every single person to achieve what they want in life. The American Dream is achievable if determination and passion is loaded into the efforts, but not everybody can reach it if it lies too far away and the person doesn’t feel like pursuing it. As this novel was set in the 1920s, it was not as normal to run after what you wanted, and to break the social norms.
We all like to believe that hard work and persistence pays off. The Great Gatsby is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that includes many themes such as wealth, love, dissatisfaction, and most importantly, the American dream, and how it’s really only a dream. The characters, especially Gatsby, are trying to achieve this dream of a perfect life throughout the entire book. It becomes apparent that instead of reaching the success they desire from the hard work that they put in, they destroy their entire lives and relationships with one another in the process. Unfortunately, this story is not too far off from something that could happen today.
A lot of countries did not realize at the time that because their was a strong sense of nationalism. This cause allies to be driven out and a lot of hatred amount countries. The United states in the early 1900s started to separate from England and Germany and as well as France which were our allies at the time. But this of course was also during the time of world war one and two. Since there was not
Haylie Garrison Mr. Kennedy English 11-7 March 28, 2018 American Dream In the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald the American dream in the 1920’s was very alive in the book. The love triangle, the mysteries, houses, parties, and the money all played a big role in the American dream. The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg played a role through the book for the people in the valley of ashes, that helped them through the broken dreams that everyone dreamed of. It represented the eyes of god and how it could fix the broken dreams that everyone wanted to be fixed and how the eyes see everything you did even when you hide things. The green light at the end of Daisy and Tom’s boat dock which was just to warn boats but to Gatsby that was representing his love for Daisy and hoping to be together one day before he went to war.
The great gatsby was revolted around the main character jay gatsby as gatsby represented the roaring twenties and the gilded age also the american dream as well as gatsby would not have to worry about money or keeping his name in the public’s eye of veiw gatsby threw parties he would spoil people with gifts and he would life a life that every american wanted to live in the twenties so when jay gatsby did die the gilded age the roaring twenties the american dream and of course the large parties all would die along side of jay gatsby . It was clear that there was going to be some weird tensions or curiosity between nick and gatsby as it was very clear that when nick first met gatsby he didn’t know what to make of gatsby and you could tell that nick just didn’t like the man who gatsby was .
Like numerous things in life, the American Dream was supposed to be something beautiful. The belief that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality, could be successful in America if they just work hard enough is certainly an innocent sentiment. It is hard to imagine a goal, which is so seemingly harmless, could actually be unattainable and eventually become corrupt. The corruption stemmed from their greed for material items, rather than just the happiness and comfort prosperity provided. Furthermore, this is exactly what The Great Gatsby showed readers.
His motivation to win back Daisy, the continuous progress of his social status, and his obsession for excessive luxury will all guarantee him attaining his American dream, but most importantly, attaining Daisy. Gatsby’s dream is composed of one major factor, and motivator: Daisy. The fact that Tom has Daisy and Gatsby can’t have her, makes Gatsby crave her more, leading him to the American Dream. Gatsby “revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes”, which depicted his unconditional love for Daisy. This depicts Gatsby’s love for Daisy and of how powerful it is.