Rags To Riches In The Great Gatsby
Americans today no longer work with what they have to accumulate wealth, but rather take short cuts to achieve their dream. Like the characters in The Great Gatsby they have lost the core beliefs, the work ethic, of the American Dream. In the Great Gatsby, Gatsby’s path to success is a true example of “rags to riches.” Gatsby came from absolutely nothing, to the successful and wealthy business man that he dreamed of being. Successfully achieving the wealth aspect of the American Dream. However, it is the process in achieving his Dream that makes it similar to the American Dream today. It is indicated by Tom when he says “He and Wolfsheim bought up a lot of shide street drug stores here and in Chicago and sould grain alcohol over the counter.
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He is a bootlegger during the time of prohibition in the United States, and uses illegal methods to obtain his wealth. Although Gatsby is in fact a “rags to riches” story, he uses these short cuts to achieve his riches. Like Gatsby, taking shortcuts to achieving one's goals and aspirations is second nature to many American workers in today’s society. The significance of the American Dream and its core values have been lost: “Since the industrial revolution, however, Americans have dreamed about finding shortcuts to extravagant wealth… The emphasis on good fortune rather than the industriousness and perseverance is eroding the work ethic that once made the American dream a respectable goal” (Warshauer 1). Similar to The Great Gatsby, the focus toward working today has shifted from the traditional work ethic of the American Dream, and is now focused on the best way to make money and the quickest way of making it. Whether it be through lawsuits, the lottery, or simply cheating other people for their money, businesses and people take advantage of one and another to accumulate wealth. The respect and work ethic of the corporate world had diminished significantly over the years. In both situations, Gatsby and the people of today, principals to the original American Dream has been lost. The core belief of working with what one already has to accumulate wealth is
He is a bootlegger during the time of prohibition in the United States, and uses illegal methods to obtain his wealth. Although Gatsby is in fact a “rags to riches” story, he uses these short cuts to achieve his riches. Like Gatsby, taking shortcuts to achieving one's goals and aspirations is second nature to many American workers in today’s society. The significance of the American Dream and its core values have been lost: “Since the industrial revolution, however, Americans have dreamed about finding shortcuts to extravagant wealth… The emphasis on good fortune rather than the industriousness and perseverance is eroding the work ethic that once made the American dream a respectable goal” (Warshauer 1). Similar to The Great Gatsby, the focus toward working today has shifted from the traditional work ethic of the American Dream, and is now focused on the best way to make money and the quickest way of making it. Whether it be through lawsuits, the lottery, or simply cheating other people for their money, businesses and people take advantage of one and another to accumulate wealth. The respect and work ethic of the corporate world had diminished significantly over the years. In both situations, Gatsby and the people of today, principals to the original American Dream has been lost. The core belief of working with what one already has to accumulate wealth is