Gatsby Compared to the American Dream
Alyssa Barrios
Mr. Carlo
AM Psych
3-6-13
The American Dream Michael Bloomberg stated “This is the city of dreamers and time and again it's the place where the greatest dream of all, the American dream, has been tested and has triumphed.” The American dream is something that many people strive for. This lifestyle is what some believe to be the superior way of living. In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby there are many examples of what the American Dream was thought to have been back in the day. In the beginning, Gatsby tells Nick about where he came from, saying that he came from wealth. Although, Nick is not sure if he even believes him considering his evidence seems a little untrue. It isn’t until later when Gatsby tells Nick the truth about how he became the man he was to date. Gatsby didn’t grow up wealthy, but he would go to any lengths to obtain wealth as he grew older. He talked about meeting Dan Cody, working on his Yacht, and how after Cody died, he inherited money. That was the start to Gatsby’s American dream. Throughout the novel there are many characters who live the American dream, and some who wish to live such life. Being wealthy was thought to be a big part of the American dream. It is obvious that Tom Buchanan comes from wealth, and it is also said that Nick comes from wealth too. The character Myrtle is a seeker of wealth. Because she knows that Tom is wealthy, she thinks that if she is wealthy too, that Tom will want to be with her instead of Daisy. She tries to decorate her apartment with extravagant furniture to make it look like she has more money than she really does. She will do almost anything to obtain the lifestyle of the American dream. The American dream today is a little different than it was around the time of the setting in this book. In the 1920s, the American dream was more focused on how much money you had. Those who had more money were thought to have a better life, which wasn’t exactly true. For example, in this book
Mr. Carlo
AM Psych
3-6-13
The American Dream Michael Bloomberg stated “This is the city of dreamers and time and again it's the place where the greatest dream of all, the American dream, has been tested and has triumphed.” The American dream is something that many people strive for. This lifestyle is what some believe to be the superior way of living. In Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby there are many examples of what the American Dream was thought to have been back in the day. In the beginning, Gatsby tells Nick about where he came from, saying that he came from wealth. Although, Nick is not sure if he even believes him considering his evidence seems a little untrue. It isn’t until later when Gatsby tells Nick the truth about how he became the man he was to date. Gatsby didn’t grow up wealthy, but he would go to any lengths to obtain wealth as he grew older. He talked about meeting Dan Cody, working on his Yacht, and how after Cody died, he inherited money. That was the start to Gatsby’s American dream. Throughout the novel there are many characters who live the American dream, and some who wish to live such life. Being wealthy was thought to be a big part of the American dream. It is obvious that Tom Buchanan comes from wealth, and it is also said that Nick comes from wealth too. The character Myrtle is a seeker of wealth. Because she knows that Tom is wealthy, she thinks that if she is wealthy too, that Tom will want to be with her instead of Daisy. She tries to decorate her apartment with extravagant furniture to make it look like she has more money than she really does. She will do almost anything to obtain the lifestyle of the American dream. The American dream today is a little different than it was around the time of the setting in this book. In the 1920s, the American dream was more focused on how much money you had. Those who had more money were thought to have a better life, which wasn’t exactly true. For example, in this book