Richard Trumka, an organized labor leader, believes that, “Without hard work and responsibility, there is no American Dream. Hard works lays the foundation. Our solidarity makes work pay-for all of us. For the greater good. That’s what our vision of shared prosperity is all about”. The American Dream is associated with the desire for wealth and happiness, and in the 1920’s, the notion of the American Dream was plagued by greed. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, explores the lives of New York’s elite. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, is immersed in the upper class and encounters people involved in love triangles, organized crime, and materialism, including Jay Gatsby, Daisy and Tom Buchanan, and Jordan Baker. F. Scott Fitzgerald
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East Egg is home to people who have inherited their wealth, while the residents of West Egg have worked to acquire their wealth recently. Nick states, “With Jordan’s slender golden arm resting in mine we descended the steps and sauntered about the garden” (Fitzgerald 47). The color gold represents “old money” because traditionally, gold was a form of currency. Jordan, Nick’s girlfriend is a member of the upper class and is authentic in her wealth. Jordan and her family have accomplished the American Dream already because they have wealth and are members of the upper class. When Nick and Jordan are at Gatsby’s party, he states that, “She held my hand impersonally, as a promise that she’d take of me in a minute, and gave ear to two girls in yellow dresses who stopped at the front of the steps” (Fitzgerald 47). The girls in the yellow dresses represent fake gold and their desire to enter New York’s high society. To these girls, the American Dream is to become a member of the upper class by making connections and to attend elaborate parties. They are not genuinely rich and want to accomplish the American Dream of wealth through the least hard work. Gold, however, portrays the result of the American Dream because wealth was gained by dedication and …show more content…
A green light is located at the end of Daisy’s dock and is visible from Gatsby’s house. Nick notices that Gatsby, “Stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward-and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, the might have been the end of a dock” (Fitzgerald 26). The green light is a symbol of the Gatsby’s dream to wed Daisy, as well as the American Dream to achieve wealth. However, Daisy’s dock and Gatsby’s mansion are separated by a lake, which illustrates the notion that Gatsby’s goals are insurmountable. The American Dream is tainted by unreality, similar to how Gatsby envisions an impractical future with Daisy. Nick recognizes that, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter-tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther….And one fine morning-” (Fitzgerald 189). The green light empowered Gatsby to reinvent himself and achieve social and financial success; however, he was unable to earn Daisy’s love. Gatsby believed in his illusion that Daisy would love him if he was a member of the upper class, and his sole purpose in life was to become her husband. As the green light is symbolic of the American Dream,
East Egg is home to people who have inherited their wealth, while the residents of West Egg have worked to acquire their wealth recently. Nick states, “With Jordan’s slender golden arm resting in mine we descended the steps and sauntered about the garden” (Fitzgerald 47). The color gold represents “old money” because traditionally, gold was a form of currency. Jordan, Nick’s girlfriend is a member of the upper class and is authentic in her wealth. Jordan and her family have accomplished the American Dream already because they have wealth and are members of the upper class. When Nick and Jordan are at Gatsby’s party, he states that, “She held my hand impersonally, as a promise that she’d take of me in a minute, and gave ear to two girls in yellow dresses who stopped at the front of the steps” (Fitzgerald 47). The girls in the yellow dresses represent fake gold and their desire to enter New York’s high society. To these girls, the American Dream is to become a member of the upper class by making connections and to attend elaborate parties. They are not genuinely rich and want to accomplish the American Dream of wealth through the least hard work. Gold, however, portrays the result of the American Dream because wealth was gained by dedication and …show more content…
A green light is located at the end of Daisy’s dock and is visible from Gatsby’s house. Nick notices that Gatsby, “Stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward-and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, the might have been the end of a dock” (Fitzgerald 26). The green light is a symbol of the Gatsby’s dream to wed Daisy, as well as the American Dream to achieve wealth. However, Daisy’s dock and Gatsby’s mansion are separated by a lake, which illustrates the notion that Gatsby’s goals are insurmountable. The American Dream is tainted by unreality, similar to how Gatsby envisions an impractical future with Daisy. Nick recognizes that, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter-tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther….And one fine morning-” (Fitzgerald 189). The green light empowered Gatsby to reinvent himself and achieve social and financial success; however, he was unable to earn Daisy’s love. Gatsby believed in his illusion that Daisy would love him if he was a member of the upper class, and his sole purpose in life was to become her husband. As the green light is symbolic of the American Dream,