During the Roaring Twenties, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald establishes the motif of corruption in a society where there was promise of social mobility and freedom to those who sought after it. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway who leaves the Midwest and moves to the East in search of a better life. He discovers many different types of people in the East: those who achieved the American Dream, those who are trying to achieve the American Dream, and those who have yet to achieve the American Dream. Through Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson, Fitzgerald establishes the theme of the corruption of the American Dream.
First, Fitzgerald portrays the deception of the American Dream through the actions of the characters trying to achieve the American Dream. Gatsby and Myrtle are both characters who are trying to achieve the American Dream; they represent the romanticists of the American Dream. Despite coming from the lower class, they try to become people of the upper class. They are both materialistic in that they dream of moving up the social ladder. Gatsby’s American Dream is to gain Daisy’s love and to live with her forever. However, he is in a lower social position than her so she can not accept him. Consequently, he attempts to move up the social ladder by creating a new identity. Claiming to be “the son of some wealthy people …show more content…
For instance, when Tom says, “‘Who is this Gatsby anyhow?’... ‘Some big bootlegger?’... ‘A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know.’” (Fitzgerald 107). This quote suggests that Gatsby became rich through his illegal acts of selling alcohol and drugs as a bootlegger. On the other hand, Myrtle attempts to achieve her dream through Tom, but is unsuccessful. Even though Tom gives her money and buys her goods, Myrtle will continue to live in the valley of ashes (Fitzgerald 25). Fitzgerald describes the Valley of Ashes
First, Fitzgerald portrays the deception of the American Dream through the actions of the characters trying to achieve the American Dream. Gatsby and Myrtle are both characters who are trying to achieve the American Dream; they represent the romanticists of the American Dream. Despite coming from the lower class, they try to become people of the upper class. They are both materialistic in that they dream of moving up the social ladder. Gatsby’s American Dream is to gain Daisy’s love and to live with her forever. However, he is in a lower social position than her so she can not accept him. Consequently, he attempts to move up the social ladder by creating a new identity. Claiming to be “the son of some wealthy people …show more content…
For instance, when Tom says, “‘Who is this Gatsby anyhow?’... ‘Some big bootlegger?’... ‘A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know.’” (Fitzgerald 107). This quote suggests that Gatsby became rich through his illegal acts of selling alcohol and drugs as a bootlegger. On the other hand, Myrtle attempts to achieve her dream through Tom, but is unsuccessful. Even though Tom gives her money and buys her goods, Myrtle will continue to live in the valley of ashes (Fitzgerald 25). Fitzgerald describes the Valley of Ashes