It’s this false notion that leads to the ruined dreams in the book. Gatsby is truly convinced that the more flashy wealth he has to offer Daisy gives him the better of a chance to win her love over. His moral decay is what leads to a failure of the American Dream. Rather than embracing a more honorable lifestyle after attaining his wealth, he does whatever he can to emulate the materialistic culture of people like Daisy and Tom. He didn’t quite fit in with that group but was seemingly obligated to associate with them. Fitzgerald summarizes them with the following quote: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that
