James Gatz wasn’t born rich. He dreamed of wealth and the happiness that supposedly accompanied it. While discussing Gatsby as a boy his father said, “Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what he’s got about improving his mind? He was always great for that”. Mr. Gatz also noted that one day Gatsby, who was of course known then as James Gatz, commented on how he ate like a pig (Fitzgerald 173). Even from a young age, Gatsby realized his father’s abhorrent social graces and was determined to better himself in hopes of becoming the man he was in his mind 's eye. His experiences as an officer attending parties at houses …show more content…
“‘Mrs. Buchanan… and Mr. Buchanan—“ After an instant’s hesitation he added: “the polo player.” “Oh, no,” objected Tom Quickly, “not me” (Fitzgerald 105). Tom hated being thought of as nothing more than a polo player but in reality that was all he had ever done, besides simply being born, to make a name for himself. Daisy was in the same boat as Tom. Her high social status was because of the household she was born to, and she never tried to be anything more, accepting her slate in life as an heiress who married well. The Buchanan’s had the American Dream in all of its material forms but they had the easy path to wealth: inheritance. They didn’t accomplish it with the same determination and hard work that now is thought to go hand in hand with