During the 1920s, the desire to achieve the American Dream was great, as the country was prosperous and people received more opportunities. Nicknamed the ‘roaring twenties’, this decade was a time when many people defied prohibition, indulged in new styles of dancing, dressing, and rejected many traditional moral standards. The American Dream is the anticipation that through hard work and initiative one can attain true success. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates a different aspect of the American Dream, as it becomes more materialistic. He establishes how this dream is impractical and congests one’s mind to render it attainable, despite its basis on wealth and idea that perfection can be reached. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby
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The constant strive for wealth essentially demoralizes its geneuity, “Her voice is full of money” (Fitzgerald 120). Gatsby loves the idea of Daisy, as she represents wealth, security, and old money. Although Gatsby has wealth he remains unsatisfied as he did not have a relationship with Daisy. Whilst wealth is attainable, status and position are not and Gatsby is never truly considered one of the elite. A connection with Daisy would have been a validation of both wealth and status. Wealth is so greatly desired that it is attained through any way possible. Both Wolfshiem and Gatsby have become rich through illicit activity, and reveal just how prioritized wealth is. All aspects of that society revolve around capital, hence the grand houses, fancy cars and extravagant parties. The mansion represents a shortsighted American Dream, that material success, will bring one status and happiness. The dream is based on hollow underpinnings, on the vacuous Daisy and the misguided concept that large amounts of money can be made and used without responsibility. Conversely, the mansion serves also as a symbol of Gatsby’s vision, aspiration, idealism and belief in the American Dream of the self-made man. People’s yearn for wealth, has contributed to materialism and ultimately degrading the true American
The constant strive for wealth essentially demoralizes its geneuity, “Her voice is full of money” (Fitzgerald 120). Gatsby loves the idea of Daisy, as she represents wealth, security, and old money. Although Gatsby has wealth he remains unsatisfied as he did not have a relationship with Daisy. Whilst wealth is attainable, status and position are not and Gatsby is never truly considered one of the elite. A connection with Daisy would have been a validation of both wealth and status. Wealth is so greatly desired that it is attained through any way possible. Both Wolfshiem and Gatsby have become rich through illicit activity, and reveal just how prioritized wealth is. All aspects of that society revolve around capital, hence the grand houses, fancy cars and extravagant parties. The mansion represents a shortsighted American Dream, that material success, will bring one status and happiness. The dream is based on hollow underpinnings, on the vacuous Daisy and the misguided concept that large amounts of money can be made and used without responsibility. Conversely, the mansion serves also as a symbol of Gatsby’s vision, aspiration, idealism and belief in the American Dream of the self-made man. People’s yearn for wealth, has contributed to materialism and ultimately degrading the true American