Introduction
The expression “The American Dream” has different ideas in people’s imaginations, but it is united by the idea of wealth and happy life. Most often, this idea also includes a successful career, a loving family, and a respectful place in society. According to Franklin, anyone can achieve this dream through work, avoiding debt and unnecessary waste. However, the wealth and splendor of The Great Gatsby film contradict this assumption in many ways. As is evident in the film The Great Gatsby, Franklin’s assertion that the American Dream is available to all people is incorrect because Gatsby achieved wealth by fraud, but it did not fulfill his American dream, while other people lived in inequality despite their efforts.
Discussion
Despite Franklin’s assertion that anyone can be successful and wealthy through hard work and saving, the Gatsby story demonstrates that cheating is a more effective route. Gatsby spent five years of his life working honestly on the yacht of millionaire Dan Cody, learning the craft and manners but remained poor cheated by Cody’s family. Military service gave Gatsby nothing but a uniform and a few awards. Eventually, Gatsby achieved his wealth and position in society by bootlegging for the mafia, rather than honest work, modesty and frugality. In many cases, honest work fails because of inequality and injustice in society, while fraud and corruption is a fast path to success and wealth.
The film shows poverty and inequality against a disproportionate wealth and extravagance, highlighting the impossibility of the American dream for some people. In the city next to the luxurious club, there were grim working-class neighborhoods where people worked hard for food, living, and died in poverty. Daisy’s American dream was only possible thanks to the wealth of men: her husband, lover, and parent. The pursuit of the American Dream has led Myrtle to infidelity, suffering, and death because she had to live under the power of men. Social, racial, and gender inequalities made the American Dream unattainable for many people, and the efforts to achieve it made their lives even more difficult.
Gatsby never achieved his success and dreams, losing his original goal on the way to achieving it. Since childhood, Gatsby knew and wanted to achieve success and strove for it, but obtaining wealth did not bring him happiness. In the process of pursuing wealth and success, Gatsby forgot his goal to achieve something more due to his obsession with Daisy. The tragic and absurd death of Gatsby demonstrates that anyone can lose what cost them tremendous efforts in a few moments. People can achieve the happiness that the American Dream implies through a combination of work, cunning, and luck, but they can also be deprived of it by the will of fate.
Conclusion
Therefore, the movie The Great Gatsby demonstrates that Franklin’s idea that hard work, virtues, and lack of debts, and unnecessary spending can bring success and wealth to everyone is incorrect. Gatsby’s story shows that honest work often gets small rewards, while fraudulent ways of earning money provide wealth that brings recognition. At the same time, the social inequality of America in the 1920s, partially presented by the film, makes the viewer understand that much depends on the rights and opportunities that society provides to people. However, even if wealth becomes a reality for some people, it may not bring happiness and be taken away in a couple of moments. Nevertheless, Gatsby’s story is just one example from the past, which leaves hope for people that the American Dream in any of its interpretations is attainable for the majority today.
Reference
Luhrmann, B. (2013). The Great Gatsby [Film]. Warner Bros.