How Did Gatsby Achieve The American Dream

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Did Jay Gatsby ever achieve the American dream? The American dream, or myth, is an ever recurring theme in American literature, dating back to some of the earliest colonial writings. Briefly defined, it is the belief that every man, whatever his origins, may pursue and attain his chosen goals, be they political, monetary, or social. It is the literary expression of the concept of America: the land of opportunity (Pearson). This American dream is what Gatsby tries to achieve throughout the whole book. Gatsby's one goal was to achieve this dream. In The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby never achieves his goal of the American Dream.

Gatsby was always trying to achieve the American dream. Daisy Buchanan represented Gatsby's idea of the American dream.
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Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness.” (Fitzgerald)
During this part Nick is watching Gatsby stare at the green light at the end of a dock. This light is at the end of the Buchanans dock, which is why Gatsby always stares at it. The existence of this light makes Gatsby feel like he has a chance still with Daisy. It represents his hopes and dreams for the
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He tells her about the green light on her dock. By telling her this he realizes that the meaning of the light was now gone, and it had become just a normal light on a dock again.
"If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay," said Gatsby. "You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock." Daisy put her arm through his abruptly, but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said. Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.” (Fitzgerald)
The green light across the bay represents his hopes and dreams, but now that the significance of it is gone it merely is just a light. When this happens Gatsby's chances at the American dream are gone forever. Without the significance of the green light his dream is

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