The Great Gatsby Quote Analysis

Everybody in the world has their own individual interpretation of the "American Dream" based on what they want to accomplish in life. Even though everyone has this thought of their dream in mind, is this even a possibility for people to accomplish in our Country? Everyone has their own dreams and aspirations but no one evers feels satisfied. They want more and more so no one feels like they can accomplish everything. In the time period that this book was written in, which is the 1920's, the American Dream is more of a dream than something that is realistic and can be accomplished, something people just talk about. People who are born into wealth or popularity based on their family members are looked on as better then others who were not no

Specifically, Nick says: “He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward – and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away.” (Fitzgerald 21-22). This quote shows how Nick realizes that even though people seem like they have everything they want it is always something missing, the American dream can represent the green light in different peoples lives through money, dreams, or aspirations. Another quote that helps show this is: “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…” (Fitzgerald 179) This allowed Nick to see that the American Dream was not everything it seemed it corrupted people and people who accomplished this “Dream” were not always good people doing good

Nick talks about Gatsby’s past and says:.“[Gatsby’s] parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people… For over a year he had been beating his way along the south shore of Lake Superior as a clam-digger and a salmon fisher or in any other capacity that brought him food and a bed” (98) This shows the beginning of Gatsby’s life and where he started to where he is now with all the wealth and prosperity he has accumulated and how he was able to get there.Another quote that proves this point is:”He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy‖ (110, 111). This gives a great example on how Jay Gatsby is stuck in the past and is still wanting something to happen in order for him to complete his dream even with all his other