In ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck and ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald how do the writers portray The American Dream and its effects on the central characters?
The Great Gatsby and Of Mice of Men are two novels of dramatic contrast in setting, which is interesting as they are only set one decade apart. With World War 1 having ended in 1919 with the Versailles Peace Treaty, America embarked on the ‘roaring twenties’ which was a period of economic might. The power of America’s economy at this time is often overlooked due to the presence of prohibition, gangsters, the Jazz Age and the Ku Klux Klan. It is fascinating to be able to compare two novels, written in such short succession, that have two completely contrasting views on American life. The 1920’s saw America as being the wealthiest country on earth, facing no prominent rival. However, the obvious turning point for the countries economic state was most certainly the stock market crash in 1929, leaving America in a state of depression. F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck give the readers a colorful snapshot into the lives of citizens in these two decades. The American Dream is a common phrase which describes the underlying drive of American society. The ubiquitous "rags to riches" legend became the foundation of American society; anyone could succeed and achieve wealth if they worked hard.
In ‘The Great Gatsby’, Jay Gatsby is the epitome of the American Dream. F Scott Fitzgerald personifies the American Dream into his character Gatsby and the life that he lives out. Gatsby is an enigmatic character, he does not speak until chapter three but is mentioned before we meet him - ‘You must know Gatsby.’. His reputation precedes him, however what people know of him is shallow. He is a collection of material things ‘His Rolls-Royce’ and ‘his two motor boats’, he has no real personality traits as of yet that the reader can perceive. He is, like the American Dream, difficult to come into contact with. In addition to this, Nick Caraway's admiration of Gatsby emulates the desire and allure of his character, ‘It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal
In ‘The Great Gatsby’, Jay Gatsby is the epitome of the American Dream. F Scott Fitzgerald personifies the American Dream into his character Gatsby and the life that he lives out. Gatsby is an enigmatic character, he does not speak until chapter three but is mentioned before we meet him - ‘You must know Gatsby.’. His reputation precedes him, however what people know of him is shallow. He is a collection of material things ‘His Rolls-Royce’ and ‘his two motor boats’, he has no real personality traits as of yet that the reader can perceive. He is, like the American Dream, difficult to come into contact with. In addition to this, Nick Caraway's admiration of Gatsby emulates the desire and allure of his character, ‘It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal