Death Of A Salesman And The Great Gatsby Analysis

Improved Essays
In the “Death of a Salesman “ by Arthur Miller and “ Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald we have been introduced to the tragedy of ruined idealism. How the main characters, Willy Loman 's and Jay Gatsby 's dreams were destroyed because of their enormous desire to be succesfull and important. However, their social status, lineage, and ability to accept the reality were incompatible with their dreams. Miller provided facts that capitalism will not give a chance to an ordinary people to get an American dream, and Fitzgerald shows that the American dream is impossible. Kimberly Hearn in narration « Fitzgerald Rendering of a dream» stated that the American dream is beautiful yet grotesquely flawed and distorted. No matter what idyllic picture we paint of America and all of its promises, underneath the brightest of hues lies the stark white canvas of truth: No one is truly equal, and regardless of opportunities, someone is always struggling …show more content…
The rules, which Gatsby from his youth established finished code of conduct for everyone who believes in the "dream" and was determined by diligence, thrift, sober calculation and hard work to make its way in life. He tried to to prove by his own example that the odds are for all the same, but he was deeply mistaken. "The American Dream" - this is the dream of the earthly sanctuary for the single person: in America, the country of equality for the common man the path to the highest level is not closed. Gatsby –is romantic and believes in the American dream, he continues to reach for purity, lives with memory of his love for Daisy. He is engaged in dirty business to get his success, he feels by gaining wealth he will be equal to wealthy people. However, Daisy is indifferent and her voice – is the rustle of money. In the sense of irrelevance Gatsby standing on the sidelines in his own

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Love and passion is evidently the downfall of almost all of the characters in the novel. Fitzgerald carefully implements a sense of passion into each character, which leads to a change in their character in some form as the novel progresses, mostly this is for the worse and leads to the downfall of most of the characters. Fitzgerald reinforces how love and passion corrupts a person through the mind of our tragic hero; Gatsby. Gatsby is infatuated with Daisy. He wishes to be in a relationship with her.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    F. Scott Fitzgerald shows many weakening points in the idea of the American Dream using the book The Great Gatsby through the topics of American being a land of bounty and beauty, the belief in progress and optimism, and triumph of an individual. He disproves the idea of America being a beautiful land with unlimited opportunities by showing the reader the hardships of the people living in the Valley of Ashes. Fitzgerald denies the belief of progress and that everything eventually getting better and easier, by showing the separation of the people who are working hard and trying to accomplish the American Dream, compared to the people who have already attained wealth through their family. There is a lot of optimism contained in the concept…

    • 1635 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Gatsby Daisy's Downfall

    • 1515 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The American Dream became an unattainable fantasy for Jay Gatsby. The American Dream is the belief that any person, regardless of their current situations, can become successful if the necessary work is exercised. The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is based in the 1920s: the time where the American Dream equaled the pinnacle of success. It was Old money versus New money.…

    • 1515 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the novel entitled The Great Gatsby, by Fitzgerald, the ideals of the so called American dream become skewed, as a result of the greediness and desires of the main characters…

    • 1130 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Values In The Great Gatsby

    • 1408 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The American Dream was the philosophy that brought people to America and to start a new life in foreign land. Due to this Dream, it was believed that America was a land of opportunity, wealth, and prosperity. The Dream consists of four values; group spirit, moral and ethical values, handwork and opportunity for everyone. Throughout many years, these four values have been corrupted leading to the death of the original American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald recognizes the death of the original American Dream in his novel The Great Gatsby.…

    • 1408 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The past and the present can often be at a constant struggle within individuals and lead to moral confusion and conflict with each other. As the past teaches one thing and the present another, the concept of right or wrong is broken and the idea that both must be embraced is not realized. The novel, The Great Gatsby, by F.Scott Fitzgerald, utilizes numerous elements and literary devices to portray many different themes and topics. Using these, he portrays the struggle between the past and the present. Specifically, Fitzgerald utilizes foreshadow to show us that certain events or conversations hold deeper meaning, relating a future event to a characters past and their struggle through their decisions.…

    • 1065 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, corruption and illusion dominates the characters throughout their lives. The characters in the novel are trying to follow the American Dream. Fitzgerald describes the American Dream as being successful in life and having a true, fighting spirit. However, the characters do unethical and extraordinary things in order to pursue their dream. The character’s corruptness and illusory are shown clearly through their actions and perspectives.…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, “The Great Gatsby,” is undoubtedly one of the most highly-acclaimed novels to be written in the 20th century, let alone- (arguably) one of the best novels of all time. It gains this acclaim not only for it’s story but for author, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, underlying themes and commentaries on deeper ideas about society. Fitzgerald namely tackles the concept commonly known as “The American Dream” and how it was perceived and portrayed in 1920’s America, as well as gives his input subtly on if this is truly what the American Dream entails . In his novel, “The Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald implies his belief that the American Dream is dead, or at least unattainable, through his portrayal of a blind and falsely hopeful…

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A Dead Man’s Dream Hard work, dedication and initiative are the fundamental values of the great pursuit of success, known as the “American Dream”. Equal to all US citizens, it represents the individual and collective desire to push beyond the boundaries of society and to strive for a better future. For generations, it has been the motivational ground for the progressive development of american civilization. In his critically-acclaimed novel “The Great Gatsby”, F. Scott Fitzgerald effectively uses characterization and metaphors to depict the eventual death of the american dream during the roaring twenties, as his story’s main theme.…

    • 1913 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    The Corruption of the American Dream The American Dream represents the outcome of American ideals, where everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their goals. During the 1920s, when The Great Gatsby was written, the American Dream appeared at its highest, with entrepreneurs creating massive fortunes for themselves. However, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s eyes, the American Dream became corrupted and destroyed during a time of great prosperity but also of great indulgence. Fitzgerald employs symbolism, motifs, and character development to define the American Dream in terms of his novel, The Great Gatsby, while also condemning its bastardization during the Roaring Twenties and depicting its demise.…

    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The corruption of the American Dream is a prevalent theme in classic literature, as it highlights the falsified illusions of social mobility and power commonly promoted during the early twentieth century. The motivation for socio-economic inclination is generally consumed by materialism and shallowness in an effort to satisfy the constant lack of self fulfillment, which inevitably leads to self destruction. Many people blindly accept the idealistic concept of social and economic mobility only to discover its unattainableness. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the corruption underlying the pursuit of the American Dream through Jay Gatsby. In an effort to captivate Daisy’s attention, Jay Gatsby publicly displays his wealth and…

    • 903 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby ISU Prospectus A common theme in English literature is isolation. The most obvious form of isolation is social isolation, but other common types include isolation from morals and reality. An example of isolation in a novel is in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. This book follows the life of the protagonist, Dorian Gray, as he explores a new hedonistic lifestyle that changes the way he looks at things as well as the way others look at him.…

    • 1801 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Money, everyone wants it and not everyone can have it. Wealth is the epitome of success in America and the American Dream has developed through that thought process. America is known as the land of opportunity or in other words “the place to get rich”. The idea that through hard work anyone can become successful has been spread throughout the United States for decades and decades. Jay Gatsby is the epitome of achieving the American Dream.…

    • 1096 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The style of an author is something unique and creative to their person and their soul. The writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald is skilled, concise, and detailed. His novels are not only distinguishable by his incredible imagination but also his impressive articulation.…

    • 1064 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The American Dream; the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Unfortunately, back in the 1920’s this ideal remained but a mere dream for anyone trying to work their way up from rags to riches for the simple reason that it was practically impossible to become rich unless you were already born into it. In the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald we get an up close and personal idea of what it was really like to be after the American Dream. However, instead of the typical dollar and a dream story Fitzgerald puts his own spin. For one, Fitzgerald criticizes the “American Dream” in every possible way throughout the entire book.…

    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays