Great Gatsby Essay
Gatsby’s Illusion of the American Dream
The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays a society of high social standings, immense wealth, and love. This can be classified as the American Dream. If an individual is determined, that individual has a reasonable chance and holds the hope for acquiring wealth, and the happiness and freedoms that go with it. In essence, the American Dream gives the chance to gain personal fulfillment, materially and spiritually. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the American Dream as an unachievable illusion, one which is ultimately detrimental to the novel’s central character, Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby tries to attain happiness, Daisy’s love, which is all he wants, but ends up failing. Evidently, Gatsby may have achieved the definition of the American Dream, but at a personal standpoint, he failed to accomplish what he was truly aiming for.
Jay Gatsby grew up with little money in his young life, until he met Dan Cody, a man who became very wealthy in precious metals. Dan Cody took in Gatsby to be his assistant on his boat, and lived with him for five years. Gatsby wanted to achieve wealth since that, which he did. Gatsby first fueled his love for Daisy when they met in 1917. Since that, Daisy, and Gatsby’s proximity to Daisy has been an illusion. Nick mentions this when he compares Daisy and Gatsby to the distance of a star to the moon (121-122). Gatsby becomes a very wealthy man, who throws parties at his extravagant mansion, in hopes of Daisy attending, which never happens. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, but Gatsby still believes that she loves him.
"It was a strange coincidence," I said. "But it wasn’t a coincidence at all."
"Why not?" "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay." (137).
That quote is a prime example of how in love Gatsby really is with Daisy, purposely buying a house across the bay from her. As it is noted early on in the book, Gatsby’s house is
The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays a society of high social standings, immense wealth, and love. This can be classified as the American Dream. If an individual is determined, that individual has a reasonable chance and holds the hope for acquiring wealth, and the happiness and freedoms that go with it. In essence, the American Dream gives the chance to gain personal fulfillment, materially and spiritually. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts the American Dream as an unachievable illusion, one which is ultimately detrimental to the novel’s central character, Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby tries to attain happiness, Daisy’s love, which is all he wants, but ends up failing. Evidently, Gatsby may have achieved the definition of the American Dream, but at a personal standpoint, he failed to accomplish what he was truly aiming for.
Jay Gatsby grew up with little money in his young life, until he met Dan Cody, a man who became very wealthy in precious metals. Dan Cody took in Gatsby to be his assistant on his boat, and lived with him for five years. Gatsby wanted to achieve wealth since that, which he did. Gatsby first fueled his love for Daisy when they met in 1917. Since that, Daisy, and Gatsby’s proximity to Daisy has been an illusion. Nick mentions this when he compares Daisy and Gatsby to the distance of a star to the moon (121-122). Gatsby becomes a very wealthy man, who throws parties at his extravagant mansion, in hopes of Daisy attending, which never happens. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, but Gatsby still believes that she loves him.
"It was a strange coincidence," I said. "But it wasn’t a coincidence at all."
"Why not?" "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay." (137).
That quote is a prime example of how in love Gatsby really is with Daisy, purposely buying a house across the bay from her. As it is noted early on in the book, Gatsby’s house is