Introduction
In “The Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald presents a complex and critical view of the American Dream, its pursuit, and the impact this pursuit has on individuals and society. Through the tragic figure of Jay Gatsby and the characters surrounding him, Fitzgerald explores the illusions and decay underlying the glittering facade of the Roaring Twenties.
The Character of Jay Gatsby
Jay Gatsby, the novel’s enigmatic central character, epitomizes the relentless pursuit of the American Dream. Gatsby’s dream is not merely wealth; it is a desire for love, status, and acceptance within the elite social circles of East Egg. His lavish parties, opulent mansion, and ostentatious lifestyle are carefully curated to reclaim a lost love, Daisy Buchanan, and assert his worth in a society that values material success.
Gatsby’s dream is rooted in the notion that with enough determination and wealth, one can achieve anything, including rewriting the past. However, Fitzgerald subtly suggests that Gatsby’s dream is an illusion built upon the shaky foundations of criminality and deceit. Gatsby’s famous assertion that “Can’t repeat the past?… Why of course you can!” (Fitzgerald, Chapter 6) underlines his tragic misapprehension of reality.
The Social Environment of the Main Character
The novel’s depiction of the people in Gatsby’s life further critiques the American Dream. Daisy Buchanan, the object of Gatsby’s affection, is portrayed as charming and alluring yet shallow and fickle, emblematic of the dream’s hollow promise. She is trapped in a loveless marriage with Tom Buchanan, a man whose wealth and status are inherited rather than self-made. Tom’s character reveals the arrogance and moral decay of the old money elite, who are secure in their position and contemptuous of those who aspire to it. Despite Gatsby’s efforts, Daisy’s allegiance ultimately lies with her class and the security it offers, illustrating the exclusivity and unattainability of the American Dream for those not born into it.
The American Dream as the Main Topic
The impact of the pursuit of the American Dream is a central theme in the novel. Characters like Myrtle Wilson, who seeks to escape her lower-class life through an affair with Tom Buchanan, and George Wilson, oblivious to that affair, are collateral damage in the ruthless quest for upward mobility. Their tragic ends demonstrate the dream’s destructive consequences on those outside the wealthy elite. The Valley of Ashes, a desolate wasteland representing the moral and social decay resulting from unchecked materialism, stands in stark contrast to the opulence of East Egg and West Egg, symbolizing the neglect of actual human values in favor of wealth and status.
The Role of Voice and Tone for the Narrative
Fitzgerald’s narrative voice, embodied in the character of Nick Carraway, provides a reflective and often cynical lens through which the reader views the action. Nick, who initially admires Gatsby’s optimism and determination, gradually becomes disillusioned with the dream as he witnesses its empty promises and moral bankruptcy. His final reflection on Gatsby’s dream—”So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald, Chapter 9)—suggests the futility of the pursuit and the inescapable pull of the past that hinders actual progress.
Conclusion
In conclusion, through “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream, while alluring, is fundamentally flawed. It is a dream that promises more than it can deliver, leading to disillusionment and destruction rather than fulfillment. The characters’ relentless pursuit of this dream reveals the moral decay hidden beneath the era’s prosperity and exposes the deep inequalities within American society. Ultimately, the novel is a cautionary tale about the dangers of conflating material wealth with happiness and the human cost of chasing an unattainable ideal.
Work Cited
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Cambridge UP, 2022.