F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby-The American Nightmare
The Great Gatsby: The American Nightmare At its peak, the American Dream was an extravagance of money. The American Dream was originally thought of as the happiness one can achieve from working hard. In its later years, however, people equated the American Dream to obtaining material wealth and status. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, takes place in New York during the beginning of the American Dream Era. The novel revolves around Jay Gatsby, a mysterious, young millionaire who tries to rekindle his past love with Daisy, who is the cousin of Nick Carraway, the narrator. Daisy, however, is married to Tom Buchanan, who is also rich but instead inherited his vast amount of money. As the story progresses, Gatsby’s
…show more content…
Gatsby materialistic use of his riches results in his lack of true companions. Gatsby hosted amazing parties every weekend at his mansion. He was able to cater to the guests that “used to go there by the hundreds” (175), but most at the parties reported to “[have not] seen the host” (47). Fitzgerald’s use of “hundreds” emphasizes the extent of his parties. Because Gatsby does not emphasize his presence well enough and there are so many guests that he isn’t able to meet with them all and actually establish true relationships with them. The guests are mainly there for use of his parties. This leads to many superficial relationships between Gatsby and his guests. Later in the novel, preceding Gatsby’s funeral, as Nick tries to find attendees, he isn’t able to. Upon arrival of Gatsby’s father, Nick is relieved because it “promised another friend at Gatsby’s grave […] they were hard to find” (168-169). The difficulty of finding attendees to his funeral indicates that many did not want to go to his funeral and that Gatsby did not have many friends. Many of his relationships with people, especially those at his party, were superficial and because of that he had lived a lonely life. Gatsby’s life of riches, which causes his own loneliness and unhappiness, is the corruption of the American
Gatsby materialistic use of his riches results in his lack of true companions. Gatsby hosted amazing parties every weekend at his mansion. He was able to cater to the guests that “used to go there by the hundreds” (175), but most at the parties reported to “[have not] seen the host” (47). Fitzgerald’s use of “hundreds” emphasizes the extent of his parties. Because Gatsby does not emphasize his presence well enough and there are so many guests that he isn’t able to meet with them all and actually establish true relationships with them. The guests are mainly there for use of his parties. This leads to many superficial relationships between Gatsby and his guests. Later in the novel, preceding Gatsby’s funeral, as Nick tries to find attendees, he isn’t able to. Upon arrival of Gatsby’s father, Nick is relieved because it “promised another friend at Gatsby’s grave […] they were hard to find” (168-169). The difficulty of finding attendees to his funeral indicates that many did not want to go to his funeral and that Gatsby did not have many friends. Many of his relationships with people, especially those at his party, were superficial and because of that he had lived a lonely life. Gatsby’s life of riches, which causes his own loneliness and unhappiness, is the corruption of the American