Aneka Happer
F. Scott. Fitzgerald and Jay Gatsby: The “American Dream”
The Roaring Twenties were a time of change in America. From technological advances, to changes in fashion, to the behavior of youth, the 1920s resulted in a shift in American Identity, and consequently, a shift in the “American Dream.” Gray Matter from The New York Times describes the “American Dream” as, “the idea that any American, with enough resolve and determination, can climb up the economic ladder, regardless of where he starts in life” (Matter). In his work, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts 1920’s America as a society engulfed by consumerism struggling to achieve an “American Dream” that is impossible to obtain. The hero of his piece, Jay Gatsby, shares many similarities with Fitzgerald as they both attempt to build themselves into successful men in an era of economic, cultural and political change that ultimately ends in their failure to advance in the socioeconomic ladder. In the 1920s, there was shift from spiritual morals to secular pursuits as America was captured by consumerism. As the history of America has developed, so has the …show more content…
Born into a lower-class family living in a rich neighborhood, he could only imagine what kind of polished lifestyle the wealthy lived. However, when Fitzgerald met Zelda, and she broke off an engagement with him because of his lack of fortune, the “American Dream” became more tantalizing. Fitzgerald worked hard to publish his first novel, This Side of Paradise, and it payed off, making him “famous almost overnight” (M.J.B). He married Zelda and the two lived a riotous lifestyle as young celebrities, much like Gatsby (Sincerely F. Scott. Fitzgerald). Fitzgerald tries to reinvent himself as a new man through his writing, and the popularity and wealth that came with being a successful author. However, he, like Gatsby, did not achieve the ultimate success they yearned
F. Scott. Fitzgerald and Jay Gatsby: The “American Dream”
The Roaring Twenties were a time of change in America. From technological advances, to changes in fashion, to the behavior of youth, the 1920s resulted in a shift in American Identity, and consequently, a shift in the “American Dream.” Gray Matter from The New York Times describes the “American Dream” as, “the idea that any American, with enough resolve and determination, can climb up the economic ladder, regardless of where he starts in life” (Matter). In his work, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts 1920’s America as a society engulfed by consumerism struggling to achieve an “American Dream” that is impossible to obtain. The hero of his piece, Jay Gatsby, shares many similarities with Fitzgerald as they both attempt to build themselves into successful men in an era of economic, cultural and political change that ultimately ends in their failure to advance in the socioeconomic ladder. In the 1920s, there was shift from spiritual morals to secular pursuits as America was captured by consumerism. As the history of America has developed, so has the …show more content…
Born into a lower-class family living in a rich neighborhood, he could only imagine what kind of polished lifestyle the wealthy lived. However, when Fitzgerald met Zelda, and she broke off an engagement with him because of his lack of fortune, the “American Dream” became more tantalizing. Fitzgerald worked hard to publish his first novel, This Side of Paradise, and it payed off, making him “famous almost overnight” (M.J.B). He married Zelda and the two lived a riotous lifestyle as young celebrities, much like Gatsby (Sincerely F. Scott. Fitzgerald). Fitzgerald tries to reinvent himself as a new man through his writing, and the popularity and wealth that came with being a successful author. However, he, like Gatsby, did not achieve the ultimate success they yearned