The Struggle of the American Dream
From the 1800’s to the 1900’s, many pieces of literary work explain the significance of the American dream in many different ways. The American dream was not always a success for some. The cause of failure of the American dream can be described as “the level of subconscious hopes, illusions and individual ideals.” (Schestakov). As a result, while the American dream is a reality for most, for some, it 's only an illusion or an imaginary dream people can only hope will come true. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and "Harlem" by Langston Hughes, the theme of the American dream is represented through negation, dishonesty, and delay.
In The Adventures …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the American dream is revealed through dishonesty. On account of Nick Carraway in the beginning of the story, we are introduced to a character named Jay Gatsby. Nick quickly learns that Gatsby is a liar, explaining how Gatsby told him his story: “He looked at me sideways—and I knew why Jordan Baker had believed he was lying. He hurried the phrase ‘educated at Oxford,’ or swallowed it or choked on it as though it had bothered him before.” (70-71.) Gatsby’s lies begin with his background. As far as Nick or anyone else knows, he was born into his wealth. Accordingly, his family died and left the money to him, which he took and traveled the world and created himself with. Once Nick gains Gatsby’s trust later on, we learn that the majority of his story was a lie. While he did grow up in the Midwest, he was not born into his money. After dropping out of school and becoming a janitor, he later on began selling liquor illegally and (probably) was involved in another criminal affairs. In addition to his many lies, his “dream” also rides on the back of his former lover Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby’s dream was preoccupied with the idea of winning back Daisy from her husband. For example, Gatsby throws a party to get her attention. Later that night, disappointedly he says, “She didn’t like it,’ he said immediately . . . ‘She didn’t have a good time.’ . . . ‘I feel far away from her,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to make her understand.’” (117). Gatsby’s dream wasn’t riches or popularity, but to be with Daisy as if nothing had changed since the last time he left. His main priority was to only win Daisy’s heart back, but because he was too focused on this dream of Daisy in a fantasy world, he was unable to realize he created an image of her that he wanted to be real, but unfortunately wasn’t. Ultimately, Daisy only cares about the amount of money Gatsby has- seeing as that was the reason she couldn’t be with him many years ago. Daisy, deep in her
From the 1800’s to the 1900’s, many pieces of literary work explain the significance of the American dream in many different ways. The American dream was not always a success for some. The cause of failure of the American dream can be described as “the level of subconscious hopes, illusions and individual ideals.” (Schestakov). As a result, while the American dream is a reality for most, for some, it 's only an illusion or an imaginary dream people can only hope will come true. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and "Harlem" by Langston Hughes, the theme of the American dream is represented through negation, dishonesty, and delay.
In The Adventures …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the American dream is revealed through dishonesty. On account of Nick Carraway in the beginning of the story, we are introduced to a character named Jay Gatsby. Nick quickly learns that Gatsby is a liar, explaining how Gatsby told him his story: “He looked at me sideways—and I knew why Jordan Baker had believed he was lying. He hurried the phrase ‘educated at Oxford,’ or swallowed it or choked on it as though it had bothered him before.” (70-71.) Gatsby’s lies begin with his background. As far as Nick or anyone else knows, he was born into his wealth. Accordingly, his family died and left the money to him, which he took and traveled the world and created himself with. Once Nick gains Gatsby’s trust later on, we learn that the majority of his story was a lie. While he did grow up in the Midwest, he was not born into his money. After dropping out of school and becoming a janitor, he later on began selling liquor illegally and (probably) was involved in another criminal affairs. In addition to his many lies, his “dream” also rides on the back of his former lover Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby’s dream was preoccupied with the idea of winning back Daisy from her husband. For example, Gatsby throws a party to get her attention. Later that night, disappointedly he says, “She didn’t like it,’ he said immediately . . . ‘She didn’t have a good time.’ . . . ‘I feel far away from her,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to make her understand.’” (117). Gatsby’s dream wasn’t riches or popularity, but to be with Daisy as if nothing had changed since the last time he left. His main priority was to only win Daisy’s heart back, but because he was too focused on this dream of Daisy in a fantasy world, he was unable to realize he created an image of her that he wanted to be real, but unfortunately wasn’t. Ultimately, Daisy only cares about the amount of money Gatsby has- seeing as that was the reason she couldn’t be with him many years ago. Daisy, deep in her