Corruption in the Great Gatsby Essay Example

In the 1920s, the American Dream gave people the idea they could achieve everything they hoped for with a little hard work. It also embodied the idea of honest, self-sufficient, intelligent people with happy successful families living in America. The Great Gatsby tells a story of a man named Nick Carraway who moves to New York in the summer of 1922. He meets his cousin Daisy Buchanan, her husband Tom Buchanan, and James Gatsby. The four of them spend most of the summer together. Gatsby attempts to win Daisy back from Tom, as they had a relationship together in the past. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates the corruption of the American Dream through the characters of Daisy, Gatsby, and the marriage of Tom and Daisy. First, Daisy Buchanan demonstrates the corrupt American dream by lying to herself and lacking sensibility. Gatsby and Daisy fell deeply in love years ago, but Daisy would not marry him because he did not have enough money. Instead, she married Tom. Daisy and Tom buy a house in East Egg and start a family. However, when Daisy and Gatsby reunite, she says to Gatsby that she still loves him. ''I love you now – isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.' She began to sob hopelessly. 'I did love him once – but I loved you too'' (Fitzgerald 132). Daisy’s life corrupts the American Dream because she cannot maintain a successful family if she still has feelings for another man. In addition, Daisy worries only about materialistic details. When Gatsby, Daisy, and Nick tour Gatsby’s house, Nick finds a picture of Gatsby and his friend Dan Cody on Gatsby’s yacht. Gatsby tells them that Dan Cody, his best friend, had passed away. Daisy shows no empathy that his friend has passed away and focuses on the yacht. ''I adore it!' exclaimed Daisy. 'The pompadour! You never told me you had a pompadour or a yacht'' (Fitzgerald 100). Daisy shows no pity for Gatsby losing his best friend because she focuses on the yacht. Daisy