Consequences Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald displays how the characters try to live the American Dream, but are lead to a careless, reckless lifestyle. In the Roaring 20s, the characters felt as though they were invincible, which led to careless lifestyles. The American Dream was to live a lavish, carefree, and fulfilled lifestyle , when in essence, the carelessness would cause a downward spiral in life. Throughout the novel, the characters show recklessness and carelessness with possessions, wealth, and love. Thus, the reality of the American Dream didn 't live up to the perception of it by the people of the Roaring 20s. From the beginning of the novel, the characters show how reckless they are with their possessions. Careless actions, that …show more content…
Gatsby 's parties have been the eye of the storm when it comes to reckless behavior. The characters attend extravagant parties with alcohol available, which is what people saw as the quintessence of living the American Dream. The reality of these parties is that their actions lead to reckless behaviors and destroy their own possessions. "In the ditch beside the road, right side up, but violently shorn of one wheel, rested a new coupé which had left Gatsby 's drive not two minutes before" (Fitzgerald 55). In a drunken stupor, the reckless man drove his car into a ditch as he was drunk while trying to leave Gatsby 's party. Getting drunk and having fun was part of the American Dream, but damaging personal possessions was not. However, the man didn 't care because he was living the desired lifestyle and attending the lavish parties. In fact, when he as looking at his car in the ditch, he was puzzled, so his reaction was to laugh. He didn 't care that his car was damaged in a ditch and it was his fault. He didn’t seem to understand …show more content…
He acquires money, and then moves to a rich area to reconnect with his long lost love, Daisy, who he couldn’t have before because he wasn’t rich enough for her. When he had his life together, Gatsby found that Daisy was living a wealthy life of her own with her husband Tom. “They had spent a year in France for no particular reason, and then drifted here and there unrestfully wherever people played polo and were rich together” (Fitzgerald 6). Tom and Daisy spent money however they pleased, as they lived the rich American Dream. The couple could afford to travel and live a roaring lifestyle because the money was there for them. They got to experience the crux of the American Dream, which others could only dream about living. They were afforded the opportunity to live through the perceived beauty and luxury of the Roaring