The Great Gatsby and The American Dream
The 1920s, sometimes referred to as the "Jazz Age" or the "Roaring Twenties," was known as a time of social change in rural America. In many aspects of life, women and men were changing their past accepted lifestyles and quickly adopting lavish lifestyles. Emerged during the twentieth century, one of the most notable writers of his time, F. Scott Fitzgerald, developed one of the greatest novels written, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald used his novels to reveal his feelings and opinions on times in the US. He was known as a writer from the "Lost Generation" because his negative beliefs were known to be different from the rest of Americans beliefs. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald offers a critical idolization …show more content…
However, Fitzgerald ultimately focus’ on Gatsby and his unrealistic thinking that money can buy everything. “…He [Fitzgerald] was persuaded that capitalism was a corrupt and dying economic system.” (Donaldson). Fitzgerald felt that capitalism and its offshoots— the excessive homes, cars, etcetera were the demise of the American Dream. The novel shows the possibilities that wealth can create and the irresponsibility that can ultimately ruin it. Gatsby’s American Dream is Daisy, and all the money he’s attained through the years has been to purely amaze her. He is so blindsided by his luxurious possessions that he does not see that money cannot buy love or happiness. Nick tells Gatsby that he should not expect so much of Daisy and that he cannot repeat the past, Gatsby quickly and confidently replies with, “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!” The reason Gatsby threw such extravagant parties was in hopes that Daisy would venture through one night. Everything he did, he did for her- so it was ironic when she does attend one of his parties, she does not enjoy herself. Gatsby then gets distressed and jumbled because he bought all these affluent things for her, assuming that’s what she wanted, when in reality it only killed their relationship. “The outsized house, together with the lavish parties and the garish clothing, the automobiles and the aquaplane, …show more content…
It was evident that this dream only truly caused corruption and destruction. The desire for something sometimes causes people to be someone they are not and this usually does not result in a positive outcome. The Great Gatsby is one microcosm within itself of what Fitzgerald’s beliefs of society were in the 1920s. He displays the American Dream as superficial, materialistic, unattainable, and overall, dead. Although the American Dream was not mentioned in the novel, the many themes and symbols within the book address the negative view of it. The Great Gatsby is a novel you really have to read between the lines to fully grasp the concept and genius meaning behind
The 1920s, sometimes referred to as the "Jazz Age" or the "Roaring Twenties," was known as a time of social change in rural America. In many aspects of life, women and men were changing their past accepted lifestyles and quickly adopting lavish lifestyles. Emerged during the twentieth century, one of the most notable writers of his time, F. Scott Fitzgerald, developed one of the greatest novels written, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald used his novels to reveal his feelings and opinions on times in the US. He was known as a writer from the "Lost Generation" because his negative beliefs were known to be different from the rest of Americans beliefs. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald offers a critical idolization …show more content…
However, Fitzgerald ultimately focus’ on Gatsby and his unrealistic thinking that money can buy everything. “…He [Fitzgerald] was persuaded that capitalism was a corrupt and dying economic system.” (Donaldson). Fitzgerald felt that capitalism and its offshoots— the excessive homes, cars, etcetera were the demise of the American Dream. The novel shows the possibilities that wealth can create and the irresponsibility that can ultimately ruin it. Gatsby’s American Dream is Daisy, and all the money he’s attained through the years has been to purely amaze her. He is so blindsided by his luxurious possessions that he does not see that money cannot buy love or happiness. Nick tells Gatsby that he should not expect so much of Daisy and that he cannot repeat the past, Gatsby quickly and confidently replies with, “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!” The reason Gatsby threw such extravagant parties was in hopes that Daisy would venture through one night. Everything he did, he did for her- so it was ironic when she does attend one of his parties, she does not enjoy herself. Gatsby then gets distressed and jumbled because he bought all these affluent things for her, assuming that’s what she wanted, when in reality it only killed their relationship. “The outsized house, together with the lavish parties and the garish clothing, the automobiles and the aquaplane, …show more content…
It was evident that this dream only truly caused corruption and destruction. The desire for something sometimes causes people to be someone they are not and this usually does not result in a positive outcome. The Great Gatsby is one microcosm within itself of what Fitzgerald’s beliefs of society were in the 1920s. He displays the American Dream as superficial, materialistic, unattainable, and overall, dead. Although the American Dream was not mentioned in the novel, the many themes and symbols within the book address the negative view of it. The Great Gatsby is a novel you really have to read between the lines to fully grasp the concept and genius meaning behind