Benjamin Franklin, Mary Antin, and F. Scott Fitzgerald each present the reader with different accounts of The American Dream. The American Dream is the idea that everyone can succeed through hard work, ambition, and determination. Franklin and Antin talk about the American Dream from personal experience while Fitzgerald writes about what he thinks the American Dream of the 1920s is like. In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, he talks about how anyone can be successful through hard work and dedication (Franklin). Franklin states that hard work is the way to reach wealth, prosperity and economic security. Franklin’s biography is full of the instances where hard work and dedication helped him gain wealth and achieve the American Dream. Mary
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Many people believe having material possessions mean that they have achieved the American Dream. Most people today will think about a life closer to that of Jay Gatsby rather than Ben Franklin or Mary Antin when thinking about someone successful who has achieved the American Dream. Material wealth is the easiest way to judge someone’s social status and class and how successful and prosperous life is. Many people believe that material goods will lead to a life full of happiness, but this is not the case, as shown by Fitzgerald. In most cases having a lavish lifestyle will lead to a rather unhappy life. As people become wealthier they will face more issues and that can lead to a rather busy and unhappy life as a result. With more money, responsibility increases and as a result it takes freedom away from people. Just like Jay Gatsby. many people believe the American Dream to be having a fancy house or a car and living a luxurious life style. People measure success using how much money they have rather than how happy and joyful their life is. In The Great Gatsby, many consider Gatsby to be someone who has achieved the American Dream mainly because of the large amount of money he has and his glamorous lifestyle. Fitzgerald shows the reader that no amount of material wealth can make people be content with their lives. In the story, …show more content…
Fitzgerald provides the readers with a glimpse in Gatsby’s exciting and fascinating life and shows how he loses everything at the end. Gatsby is concerned with material possession and goes to great length to show how wealthy he is. Fitzgerald shows the reader Gatsby’s obsession with material possessions on numerous occasions. Gatsby’s fabulous parties is a perfect example of Gatsby showcasing his lavish lifestyle. However, at the end even with him enormous wealth he never becomes truly happy. Fitzgerald’s account of the American Dream is very accurate as it highlights peoples’ obsession with material wealth. In today’s society gaining material wealth is considered to be achieving the American Dream. Anyone showcasing their wealth by throwing parties and buying expensive cars is considered as someone who has achieved the American Dream. Many people today are more concerned about making money rather than getting a good education. The Great Gatsby also shows that the idea of hard work is slowing fading away and people like Gatsby will do whatever that is necessary to be wealthy. Fitzgerald shows that people will turn to a life of crime if it means gaining more material wealth. This characteristic of doing whatever that is necessary rather honest work is evident in society and people are more concerned with gaining wealth rather than the path they take it
Many people believe having material possessions mean that they have achieved the American Dream. Most people today will think about a life closer to that of Jay Gatsby rather than Ben Franklin or Mary Antin when thinking about someone successful who has achieved the American Dream. Material wealth is the easiest way to judge someone’s social status and class and how successful and prosperous life is. Many people believe that material goods will lead to a life full of happiness, but this is not the case, as shown by Fitzgerald. In most cases having a lavish lifestyle will lead to a rather unhappy life. As people become wealthier they will face more issues and that can lead to a rather busy and unhappy life as a result. With more money, responsibility increases and as a result it takes freedom away from people. Just like Jay Gatsby. many people believe the American Dream to be having a fancy house or a car and living a luxurious life style. People measure success using how much money they have rather than how happy and joyful their life is. In The Great Gatsby, many consider Gatsby to be someone who has achieved the American Dream mainly because of the large amount of money he has and his glamorous lifestyle. Fitzgerald shows the reader that no amount of material wealth can make people be content with their lives. In the story, …show more content…
Fitzgerald provides the readers with a glimpse in Gatsby’s exciting and fascinating life and shows how he loses everything at the end. Gatsby is concerned with material possession and goes to great length to show how wealthy he is. Fitzgerald shows the reader Gatsby’s obsession with material possessions on numerous occasions. Gatsby’s fabulous parties is a perfect example of Gatsby showcasing his lavish lifestyle. However, at the end even with him enormous wealth he never becomes truly happy. Fitzgerald’s account of the American Dream is very accurate as it highlights peoples’ obsession with material wealth. In today’s society gaining material wealth is considered to be achieving the American Dream. Anyone showcasing their wealth by throwing parties and buying expensive cars is considered as someone who has achieved the American Dream. Many people today are more concerned about making money rather than getting a good education. The Great Gatsby also shows that the idea of hard work is slowing fading away and people like Gatsby will do whatever that is necessary to be wealthy. Fitzgerald shows that people will turn to a life of crime if it means gaining more material wealth. This characteristic of doing whatever that is necessary rather honest work is evident in society and people are more concerned with gaining wealth rather than the path they take it