In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and in the musical Chicago by Rob Marshall, the American Dream goes beyond seeking the idea of stability as people prove to never be satisfied with what they have. Through Fitzgerald’s lens, his two main characters are money driven, selfish people who act on their own interest. Fitzgerald focuses on what people are willing to do to achieve what they want. In Marshall's musical viewers see the goal of social climbing, These pieces voice readers to analyze the real purpose of people's actions, regarding what and why they are motivated in certain directions. One can see the American dream of seeking independence, stability, and hard work always results in a selfish pursuit of pleasure.
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It is human nature to want more, whether it's wanting more wealth and power or just wanting something as simple as love. In the novel, Fitzgerald demonstrates the symbol of the green light. Physically the green light is like an electric lamp that marks the end of Daisy's dock. Daisy’ss mansion is directly in front of Gatsby's mansion and Gatsby can always see the green light which simultaneously torments him and brings him hope, “He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily, I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of the dock” (Fitzgerald 21). At the beginning, the light represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams as well as his desire to reunite once again with Daisy. This is associated with a positive connection with the color green. Gatsby hoped Daisy would be his salvation, to be the one who pulled him out of darkness and directed him in the right direction. Throughout the novel, Daisy’s true colors and personality are shown. Disappointingly, the symbolic meaning behind the green light collapses. Daisy is no longer a magical creature but instead a flawed person. Now this stands for the unreachable dream that lives inside all people. This also stands for wanting more than what is already achieved and becoming money driven. It translates into the idea of only doing things because it's convenient and will lead back to money, a better life or even just
To …show more content…
It is human nature to want more, whether it's wanting more wealth and power or just wanting something as simple as love. In the novel, Fitzgerald demonstrates the symbol of the green light. Physically the green light is like an electric lamp that marks the end of Daisy's dock. Daisy’ss mansion is directly in front of Gatsby's mansion and Gatsby can always see the green light which simultaneously torments him and brings him hope, “He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily, I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of the dock” (Fitzgerald 21). At the beginning, the light represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams as well as his desire to reunite once again with Daisy. This is associated with a positive connection with the color green. Gatsby hoped Daisy would be his salvation, to be the one who pulled him out of darkness and directed him in the right direction. Throughout the novel, Daisy’s true colors and personality are shown. Disappointingly, the symbolic meaning behind the green light collapses. Daisy is no longer a magical creature but instead a flawed person. Now this stands for the unreachable dream that lives inside all people. This also stands for wanting more than what is already achieved and becoming money driven. It translates into the idea of only doing things because it's convenient and will lead back to money, a better life or even just