The Great Gatsby- Final Essay

The Great Gatsby and The “American Dream”

     What is the American dream? The American dream is claimed by many to be living as high up on the social ladder as possible and achieving whatever you put your mind to.  The 1920‘s, also known as the roaring 20‘s, is known for being the time period of the decline of the American dream.  The theme of The Great Gatsby by Scott F. Fitzgerald, is said to represent the time period very well and is said by one critic to be the “withering of the American dream.”   The main way Fitzgerald shows this theme is through the main character, Jay Gatsby.

     Gatsby grew up in a very poor family.  At a young age, he made it his priority to become very wealthy and extravagant later in life.  Jay Gatsby achieved this- but not legally.  He bootlegged alcohol, gambled, scammed to get his money.  This is how life was in the 1920’s.  People put the priority of money so high, that they were willing to do whatever it took to get that money.  Most of the time, this way was illegal.  The integrity of the American people was shot down.

     Also, the 20’s had a boom in materialism.  Everyone had to have the latest styles and fashions, and everything was always one big party.  This is shown in the book through Gatsby’s parties. Gatsby has a huge party every weekend at his mansion in West Egg and is known for his parties. Most people would have said that he had it all and was living the dream, but he wasn’t. He didn’t enjoy his parties. Instead, Gatsby would look out window in hopes that one specific person would show up. That person was Daisy. 

     Daisy was a wealthy girl whom Gatsby fell in love with before he went off to the war.  She said she would wait for him, but she didn’t after she found out Gatsby was poor.  Gatsby was heart broken and then made it his goal to become wealthy in order to win Daisy back.  He won her back at first, but then lost her again to her husband, Tom.  This is the most important aspect to me because it represents so many things.  The fact that Daisy left Gatsby the first time shows how important it was to only be with people in your own social class during the time period. Gatsby then shows the determination and drive it takes to reach your goal and then makes it his life and won’t stop until he achieves it. Many people classify this as the American dream. But, the “hard work” he put into becoming rich to impress Daisy ends up not working the way he expected it to. He later gets killed and his dream dies with him. 

     On the surface, the American dream may look spectacular. But, once it is achieved, it may not turn out to be all it is cracked up to be. Much like Gatsby’s experience, The American dream was corrupted and twisted in the process of obtaining it.  During the 20’s, all America had lost its integrity in the pursuit of the American dream- a point very clearly expressed in The Great Gatsby.