Imagine constructing your entire life around one dream. Everything you do is in pursuit of this goal and you ultimately let it take over your life. This dream will become an obsession and in the end it may never come true. In F. Scott Fitzgerald`s novel The Great Gatsby, the protagonist, Jay Gatsby, lives his life solely to win back the heart of Daisy Buchanan. Over time he becomes so caught up in his fixation with Daisy that he loses his grip on reality. He believes that he can recreate the past exactly how it was and that Daisy has not changed since they were together five years before. He thinks that his new money will allow them to be together since it is the difference in social class that had caused the end of their relationship. In the
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Gatsby believed that being part of the "old money" class was as good as life could get, and "that the way to wealth is the way to a new status..."(Rowe). He met Daisy and knew that if he married her he would be a respectable member of the "old money" class. However, to win over Daisy he needed to become wealthy on his own. He built up his fortune as a bootlegger and used the money to show Daisy he was worthy of her love. He purchased a huge mansion in West Egg; "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay" (Fitzgerald 78). He used his money to buy a house in the rich area of New York and be close to Daisy. Gatsby insisted that Nick invite Daisy to his own small house which sits on the edge of his lawn in order for her to be able to see his estate in all its glory (Fitzgerald 79). He threw extravagant parties to show off his money. He wanted everyone, especially Daisy, to know that he had money to burn, “…he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night” (Fitzgerald 79). He designed his plan to win over Daisy thinking that money would be all that he needed, he thought he could “…achieve his ends through sheer materialistic means, through the power that he thinks he commands from his wealth” (Pearson). He believed that he could use wealth to get all he wanted in life, Daisy`s love. Therefore, “corrupt materialism” plagued his dream (Rowe). Money was the center of Gatsby`s thoughts even about Daisy. He was not so much in love with her as he was with her wealth and status. To him, Daisy was a grail that represented wealth and power (Rowe). His love for Daisy symbolized his love for money. He believed that by marrying Daisy and becoming part of the “old money” class he would have achieved the perfect life. Most people know that money cannot buy happiness, but Gatsby would have begged to differ. His unrealistic dependence on
Gatsby believed that being part of the "old money" class was as good as life could get, and "that the way to wealth is the way to a new status..."(Rowe). He met Daisy and knew that if he married her he would be a respectable member of the "old money" class. However, to win over Daisy he needed to become wealthy on his own. He built up his fortune as a bootlegger and used the money to show Daisy he was worthy of her love. He purchased a huge mansion in West Egg; "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay" (Fitzgerald 78). He used his money to buy a house in the rich area of New York and be close to Daisy. Gatsby insisted that Nick invite Daisy to his own small house which sits on the edge of his lawn in order for her to be able to see his estate in all its glory (Fitzgerald 79). He threw extravagant parties to show off his money. He wanted everyone, especially Daisy, to know that he had money to burn, “…he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night” (Fitzgerald 79). He designed his plan to win over Daisy thinking that money would be all that he needed, he thought he could “…achieve his ends through sheer materialistic means, through the power that he thinks he commands from his wealth” (Pearson). He believed that he could use wealth to get all he wanted in life, Daisy`s love. Therefore, “corrupt materialism” plagued his dream (Rowe). Money was the center of Gatsby`s thoughts even about Daisy. He was not so much in love with her as he was with her wealth and status. To him, Daisy was a grail that represented wealth and power (Rowe). His love for Daisy symbolized his love for money. He believed that by marrying Daisy and becoming part of the “old money” class he would have achieved the perfect life. Most people know that money cannot buy happiness, but Gatsby would have begged to differ. His unrealistic dependence on