Engaging the Fantasy
The American dream is a way of life embraced by most people in America. It brings people together, provides a source of inspiration, and drives people to work hard, no matter where someone is in life, everyone has heard of the American dream. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, every character peruses his or her American dream, looking for success in their own way. While they made not specifically state that they are pursuing an American dream, every character as a goal they wish to achieve. The American dream is a tool used to determine one’s identity, changing the very way each character acts; and, while each individual may have a different dream, sacrifices must always be made to achieve these dreams, inevitably …show more content…
James determines that he would like to peruse his American through wealth. James attends college and leaves his previous life behind, however, when he goes to college, he realizes this is not the way in which he will be able to pursue his dream, explaining how college has a, “ferocious indifference to the drums of his destiny” (63). The college is not a place for completing his dream. James will stop at nothing to achieve his dream, dropping out of college and while searching for something to do, meets Don Cody, a millionaire stranded on the beach. Nick illustrates how to Gatsby, “[The] yacht represented all the beauty and glamour in the world” (64). The yacht functions as a symbol of wealth and the American dream for Gatsby, driving him to work hard. This even makes Jay believe that through wealth, anything is achievable. James changes the way he lives his life in order to achieve his version of the American dream, changing his name to Jay, and stopping at nothing to achieve his dream. His identity is completely transformed as he becomes the version of himself he believes can be successful. Jay believes that by presenting himself as an Oxford scholar, people will respect him, allowing him to pursue his dream further. Additionally, Gatsby’s dream is created to gain the love of daisy. He believes that Daisy is attracted to Tom because of his money and that if he gains the …show more content…
No matter how close one gets to completing their goal, they will never truly be satisfied. There will always be a better more complete version elsewhere. Nick says how “Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself” (63). Jay’s dream is nothing more than an ideal he creates in his mind, making it impossible to truly realize. Similarly, Myrtle creates the ideal of being rich and affluent and while she may feel like she achieves this, onlookers see her as nothing more than on of Tom’s many mistresses. When Nick sees her for the first time in the garage, she is dressed in what he describes as a distasteful. Nick describes as someone who, “contained no facet of gleam of beauty” (18). She becomes so desperate for her dream that her new identity is one that opposes the image she wishes to present. She has gone to the extreme, making her even less respected than before. Even Gatsby starts to become unethical as he pursues his dream. In order to gain wealth quickly, Gatsby started to enter into the bootlegging business. When prohibition took over, Gatsby took advantage, and, at all of his parties, alcohol was present by the gallon. Nick describes this, explaining how, “champagne was served into glasses bigger than finger-bowls” (31). Gatsby is willing to do anything to get Daisy back, ultimately resulting in him losing the qualities
The American dream is a way of life embraced by most people in America. It brings people together, provides a source of inspiration, and drives people to work hard, no matter where someone is in life, everyone has heard of the American dream. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, every character peruses his or her American dream, looking for success in their own way. While they made not specifically state that they are pursuing an American dream, every character as a goal they wish to achieve. The American dream is a tool used to determine one’s identity, changing the very way each character acts; and, while each individual may have a different dream, sacrifices must always be made to achieve these dreams, inevitably …show more content…
James determines that he would like to peruse his American through wealth. James attends college and leaves his previous life behind, however, when he goes to college, he realizes this is not the way in which he will be able to pursue his dream, explaining how college has a, “ferocious indifference to the drums of his destiny” (63). The college is not a place for completing his dream. James will stop at nothing to achieve his dream, dropping out of college and while searching for something to do, meets Don Cody, a millionaire stranded on the beach. Nick illustrates how to Gatsby, “[The] yacht represented all the beauty and glamour in the world” (64). The yacht functions as a symbol of wealth and the American dream for Gatsby, driving him to work hard. This even makes Jay believe that through wealth, anything is achievable. James changes the way he lives his life in order to achieve his version of the American dream, changing his name to Jay, and stopping at nothing to achieve his dream. His identity is completely transformed as he becomes the version of himself he believes can be successful. Jay believes that by presenting himself as an Oxford scholar, people will respect him, allowing him to pursue his dream further. Additionally, Gatsby’s dream is created to gain the love of daisy. He believes that Daisy is attracted to Tom because of his money and that if he gains the …show more content…
No matter how close one gets to completing their goal, they will never truly be satisfied. There will always be a better more complete version elsewhere. Nick says how “Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself” (63). Jay’s dream is nothing more than an ideal he creates in his mind, making it impossible to truly realize. Similarly, Myrtle creates the ideal of being rich and affluent and while she may feel like she achieves this, onlookers see her as nothing more than on of Tom’s many mistresses. When Nick sees her for the first time in the garage, she is dressed in what he describes as a distasteful. Nick describes as someone who, “contained no facet of gleam of beauty” (18). She becomes so desperate for her dream that her new identity is one that opposes the image she wishes to present. She has gone to the extreme, making her even less respected than before. Even Gatsby starts to become unethical as he pursues his dream. In order to gain wealth quickly, Gatsby started to enter into the bootlegging business. When prohibition took over, Gatsby took advantage, and, at all of his parties, alcohol was present by the gallon. Nick describes this, explaining how, “champagne was served into glasses bigger than finger-bowls” (31). Gatsby is willing to do anything to get Daisy back, ultimately resulting in him losing the qualities