The American Dream is presented negatively in the Great Gatsby due to Jay Gatsby’s delusional view of the world and the outcome of his endeavors. He worked so hard to gain Daisy’s affection such as obtaining wealth and a name for himself, only to be disappointed in the end. The American Dream is portrayed as a corrupt ideal that promises happiness and brings false hope to those who work hard. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the tragedy of Jay Gatsby’s life to portray how impossible it is for the American Dream to correlate with reality.
Gatsby, knowing Daisy as a materialistic woman, worked to acquire affluence and a better image to impress her. He was aware that she would not take him as a poor man. “He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths so that he could ‘come over’ some afternoon to a stranger’s garden.” (83). He bought a mansion in West Egg and hosted large parties to be close to her. He took the steps he thought were necessary to …show more content…
Fitzgerald uses the recurring symbol of the green light to represent the hope Gatsby has for his unreachable dream. The green light is first introduced at the end of the first chapter where Nick Carraway sees Gatsby stretching his arm towards it. “he stretched out his arm toward the dark water in a curious way, and far I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling” (26). The gesture of him reaching out toward the dark water symbolizes his motivation to pursue his goal to win Daisy over. The green light is mentioned again after Gatsby and Daisy’s first meeting, illustrating how the significance of the light became less meaningful. “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever” (98). The light became less significant once they reunited for the first time in years, alluding to Gatsby’s high expectations of Daisy eventually
Gatsby, knowing Daisy as a materialistic woman, worked to acquire affluence and a better image to impress her. He was aware that she would not take him as a poor man. “He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths so that he could ‘come over’ some afternoon to a stranger’s garden.” (83). He bought a mansion in West Egg and hosted large parties to be close to her. He took the steps he thought were necessary to …show more content…
Fitzgerald uses the recurring symbol of the green light to represent the hope Gatsby has for his unreachable dream. The green light is first introduced at the end of the first chapter where Nick Carraway sees Gatsby stretching his arm towards it. “he stretched out his arm toward the dark water in a curious way, and far I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling” (26). The gesture of him reaching out toward the dark water symbolizes his motivation to pursue his goal to win Daisy over. The green light is mentioned again after Gatsby and Daisy’s first meeting, illustrating how the significance of the light became less meaningful. “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever” (98). The light became less significant once they reunited for the first time in years, alluding to Gatsby’s high expectations of Daisy eventually