Corruption Of The American Dream

“The American Dream has run out of gas. The car has stopped. It no longer supplies the world with its images, its dreams, its fantasies. No more. It 's over. It supplies the world with its nightmares now.”(J. G. Ballard). Ballard explains how American Dream has expired, as being previously described as someone starting on the low economic, and social spectrum and working hard to achieve prosperity, wealth and even fame, it has become obvious it is not possible. In Great Gatsby, placed in the 1920’s era it is showed what happened or what really is the American Dream. Most characters in the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, wanted money, wealth and happiness, because this was the American Dream. Throughout the novel it is evident …show more content…
Daisy married Tom for his wealth and status. She didn’t marry Gatsby even though she loved him, because she didn 't know he would amount to as much as he did. Daisy was only after money and was devastated when she found out she could have had both if she had waited for Gatsby. “They 're such beautiful shirts, she sobbed, her muffled in the folds. It makes me sad because I 've never seen such beautiful shirts.” (pg.82) Daisy is extremely materialistic. This is the first time she visits Gatsby 's mansion, and she 's overwhelmed by everything he owns. Gatsby 's bedroom is the last thing he shows her, and it is the most extravagant of all, she’s overwhelmed by everything that she sees exhibited by Gatsby. Although Tom and Daisy are wealthy, Gatsby likes to show off what he has. Daisy was overexcited about how rich Gatsby is that at this point she can no longer contain herself, causing her to cry. Daisy only married Tom because he depicted the American Dream, and she herself wanted to capture that image. Pushing Daisy to marry someone she didn 't love, to achieve the American Dream, exposing its decay. The desire for a luxurious life is what lures Myrtle into having an affair with Tom. When Myrtle first got married to George Wilson, she thought that she was crazy about him and thought that they were happy being together. “ He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get …show more content…
There’s a lot of infidelity in the Great Gatsby , even with high risks the characters continued with their affairs corrupting the American Dream, which is being faithful to one person and building a life."Tom 's got some woman in New York" (pg.15). Tom was the epitome of the American dream; he was wealthy and powerful, but his affairs showed a decrease of overall relationships. Since Tom was very dominant in this aspect and desirable to not only Daisy, but also Myrtle it gave him a sense that he was able to cheat without consequences. But Tom had a wife, a child and a reputation to maintain, yet he continued to risk it to have a mindless affair with a person he didn 't care about. This decrease in the value of relationships allowed for the dwindle of the American Dream. The decline and corruption of the American dream through a decrease in value of relationships was showcased in the Great Gatsby when Tom comments on relationships. “Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions.” (Pg 124) This was interesting coming from Tom because it was hypocritical, but he made this comment towards Gatsby, when he realized there was something between Gatsby and Daisy. Gatsby wanted to achieve the American Dream, and for the most part he had it; wealth and power, but he didn 't have a person to share it with. He wanted Daisy to complete this ideal dream, but