What is the American Dream? To some the American dream symbolizes passion, endless opportunity and a certainty that everything is capable if you try and work hard to reach it. (Films Media Group, 2007) Others may understand a money-oriented and shallow side of the dream where the vision contains nothing more than pushing for financial prosperity, wealth and control, as this was suppose to bring freedom and happiness. “The simplest possible answer as well as the most common general impression, is expressed by the standard cliché, the rise from rags to riches.” (Bloom, 2009, p.23) “Americans believe in self-invention, making yourself into a more successful, richer, more genteel, more intelligent person.” (Films Media Group, 2007) “A second and
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In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald reveals what occurs when this vision is engaged too far, thus challenging readers’ beliefs by portraying the theme of illusion versus reality through the characteristics and inspirations of the characters, their twisted relationships, and powerful motifs and symbols of their own dream. What is one to do when the fantasy seems to surpass reality? What are the penalties when a successful man lets the fantasy matter more than life itself? Fitzgerald shows that pursuing dead dreams points only to despair through the hopelessly in love Gatsby, realistic Nick, materialistic Daisy and foolish …show more content…
She is more concerned about materialistic happiness and chooses it rather than emotional reliefs and a real love. This theme becomes clear to the reader when she tells Nick about her daughter, “I‘m glad it‘s a girl. And I hope she‘ll be a fool—that‘s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” (Fitzgerald, 1925, p.15) Daisy had never favored love over riches, she always was happy with riches and expensive things, if she was truly in love with Gatsby, she could’ve waited for him, but instead she married Tom because his money, fame, and power. Daisy materialistic dream is clearly well-defined when she visits Gatsby’s mansion. Gatsby shows daisy around his mansion and he show her his collection of shirts. Daisy cries over them saying “They’re such beautiful shirts,” [...] “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such — such beautiful shirts before.” Here reader are shown the fascination in the American Dream with riches and assets. Daisy and her shallow passions as crying over a simple shirt, reader would receive her as over the top, and pitiful, this reveals how shallow and materialistic she is. This is the first hint that Daisy is just in it for money. Daisy actions and carelessness shows how she is morally corrupted in American dream. She killed Myrtle and didn’t even stop to see if she was okay. Instead she kept it a secret from others, even though Gatsby death was caused by this careless event. This all
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald reveals what occurs when this vision is engaged too far, thus challenging readers’ beliefs by portraying the theme of illusion versus reality through the characteristics and inspirations of the characters, their twisted relationships, and powerful motifs and symbols of their own dream. What is one to do when the fantasy seems to surpass reality? What are the penalties when a successful man lets the fantasy matter more than life itself? Fitzgerald shows that pursuing dead dreams points only to despair through the hopelessly in love Gatsby, realistic Nick, materialistic Daisy and foolish …show more content…
She is more concerned about materialistic happiness and chooses it rather than emotional reliefs and a real love. This theme becomes clear to the reader when she tells Nick about her daughter, “I‘m glad it‘s a girl. And I hope she‘ll be a fool—that‘s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” (Fitzgerald, 1925, p.15) Daisy had never favored love over riches, she always was happy with riches and expensive things, if she was truly in love with Gatsby, she could’ve waited for him, but instead she married Tom because his money, fame, and power. Daisy materialistic dream is clearly well-defined when she visits Gatsby’s mansion. Gatsby shows daisy around his mansion and he show her his collection of shirts. Daisy cries over them saying “They’re such beautiful shirts,” [...] “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such — such beautiful shirts before.” Here reader are shown the fascination in the American Dream with riches and assets. Daisy and her shallow passions as crying over a simple shirt, reader would receive her as over the top, and pitiful, this reveals how shallow and materialistic she is. This is the first hint that Daisy is just in it for money. Daisy actions and carelessness shows how she is morally corrupted in American dream. She killed Myrtle and didn’t even stop to see if she was okay. Instead she kept it a secret from others, even though Gatsby death was caused by this careless event. This all