Engaging the Fantasy
The American dream is a method of establishing and pursuing goals embraced by many people in America. It brings people together, provides a source of inspiration, and drives people to work hard. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, every character pursues his or her American dream, looking for success in their own way. While Gatsby, Myrtle, and Tom do not specifically state that they are pursuing an American dream, every character has a goal they wish to achieve, whether it be the pursuit of a specific person, lifestyle, or simply maintaining the dream society believes they have already achieved. Often times, however, this dream fails, leaving the person pursuing the dream unsatisfied. The American dream is so powerful that it promotes a dogmatic search for a goal that is unachievable. For this reason, the American Dream is a platonic ideal, and while it may be different for every person, it is never attainable, often resulting in an undesirable end.
Jay Gatsby’s American dream is to recreate the relationship with the idea of Daisy he has imagined for the last five years. Gatsby creates an ideal world in which they are together, and will stop at nothing to achieve this platonic ideal, something he will never be able to attain. He believes that Daisy is attracted to Tom because of his wealth, and thinks that if he gains the same amount of wealth, Daisy will come back to him. Gatsby will stop at nothing to acquire the wealth …show more content…
As each character moves closer and closer to achieving their dream, their lives become less desirable, ultimately putting them in a worse position than when they started. It is important to recognize the creation of platonic ideals in order to stay focused on things that are achievable, something that cannot happen through the pursuit of an American
The American dream is a method of establishing and pursuing goals embraced by many people in America. It brings people together, provides a source of inspiration, and drives people to work hard. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, every character pursues his or her American dream, looking for success in their own way. While Gatsby, Myrtle, and Tom do not specifically state that they are pursuing an American dream, every character has a goal they wish to achieve, whether it be the pursuit of a specific person, lifestyle, or simply maintaining the dream society believes they have already achieved. Often times, however, this dream fails, leaving the person pursuing the dream unsatisfied. The American dream is so powerful that it promotes a dogmatic search for a goal that is unachievable. For this reason, the American Dream is a platonic ideal, and while it may be different for every person, it is never attainable, often resulting in an undesirable end.
Jay Gatsby’s American dream is to recreate the relationship with the idea of Daisy he has imagined for the last five years. Gatsby creates an ideal world in which they are together, and will stop at nothing to achieve this platonic ideal, something he will never be able to attain. He believes that Daisy is attracted to Tom because of his wealth, and thinks that if he gains the same amount of wealth, Daisy will come back to him. Gatsby will stop at nothing to acquire the wealth …show more content…
As each character moves closer and closer to achieving their dream, their lives become less desirable, ultimately putting them in a worse position than when they started. It is important to recognize the creation of platonic ideals in order to stay focused on things that are achievable, something that cannot happen through the pursuit of an American