In a socially stratified society, one’s status is pre-determined by his or her wealth, education, and background. Those who inherit a higher status in the social hierarchy are the ones who possess wealth and power. Although social stratification may provide motivation and prompt those of the lower status to work harder, it poses challenges for them to climb the social ladder. On the other hand, the American Dream was embraced in the early nineteen hundreds on the premise that America granted individuals equal opportunities to succeed regardless of their race and class. Unfortunately, the American Dream at times clashes with a social class system where the lower class are denied of their opportunities due to alienation and oppression from the
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The conflicts between Myrtle and Tom, and Gatsby and Daisy demonstrate that in a socially stratified society, the one who is with a lower class status will always be alienated and discriminated no matter how much effort he or she puts in to working hard to improve their social status. It is evident to the lower class that the American Dream is unattainable because the upper class will always take away opportunities from the lower class to climb the social ladder. Furthermore, Fitzgerald also employs the symbol of the green light and parties to depict the deception of the American Dream because it is only wishful thinking that they can enjoy the equal standing as the elite class. Ultimately, Fitzgerald emphasizes the destructive role played by social stratification in undermining social mobility. Clearly, Jay Gatsby’s failure to be appreciated by the Old Money despite his wealth demonstrates that the American Dream is flawed. Sadly, the more effort the lower class put in to realizing the American Dream, the more the upper class forcibly oppress and exploit them because the upper class in a social stratified society feel that they are entitled to subjugate those who are inferior to them. In essence, the American Dream is beautiful on the outside. The sobering truth, however, is that it is elusive and ugly
The conflicts between Myrtle and Tom, and Gatsby and Daisy demonstrate that in a socially stratified society, the one who is with a lower class status will always be alienated and discriminated no matter how much effort he or she puts in to working hard to improve their social status. It is evident to the lower class that the American Dream is unattainable because the upper class will always take away opportunities from the lower class to climb the social ladder. Furthermore, Fitzgerald also employs the symbol of the green light and parties to depict the deception of the American Dream because it is only wishful thinking that they can enjoy the equal standing as the elite class. Ultimately, Fitzgerald emphasizes the destructive role played by social stratification in undermining social mobility. Clearly, Jay Gatsby’s failure to be appreciated by the Old Money despite his wealth demonstrates that the American Dream is flawed. Sadly, the more effort the lower class put in to realizing the American Dream, the more the upper class forcibly oppress and exploit them because the upper class in a social stratified society feel that they are entitled to subjugate those who are inferior to them. In essence, the American Dream is beautiful on the outside. The sobering truth, however, is that it is elusive and ugly