Introduction
“The American Dream” is one of U.S. literature’s most popular and cutting-edge themes and a common symbol of American prose and poetry. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a vivid example of a literary work that explores the American dream, its corruption through materialism, and the consequences of pursuing wealth. The novel The Great Gatsby is the story of James Getz, a poor young man who dreams of the mutual love of a high-status girl and tries to achieve it by overcoming all obstacles. Having become a wealthy bootlegger, Jay Gatsby is getting close to his dream, gradually realizing his society is bright and shiny on the outside but fake and dim on the inside.
Therefore, in the novel, Scott Fitzgerald identifies the American dream as “an American tragedy,” demonstrating the conflict between the desired and the real and how luxury and wealth can prevail over moral values, leaving the dream of happiness unrealized and empty. Through social class, disillusionment, and love and marriage, Scott Fitzgerald illustrates how materialism and the erosion of moral principles in society contributed to the impossibility and corruption of the American dream.
Social Class
In The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald uses the different social classes to demonstrate the American dream’s corruption. Although Great Gatsby is a specific portrait of American society in the Roaring Twenties, its story is a tale that has been told hundreds of times and is probably as old as America itself: Man makes his way from rags to riches, only to find that his wealth cannot give him the privileges enjoyed by those born into the upper class. Gatsby and his associates are wealthy and powerful; their capital is built on illegal activities, showing the power of money over morality. James Getz is full of ambitious plans – he is ready to do anything to get rich and break into the highest echelons of American society. However, such an obsessive desire to succeed and climb the social ladder at all costs nips in the bud Gatsby’s attempts to get closer to achieving his goal.
In this case, the writer emphasizes the essential difference between the old and the new material world of the 20s. The old money families of East Egg, such as the Buchanans, represent a more traditional approach to wealth, while the new money of West Egg, embodied by Gatsby, is built on ill-gotten gains. The criminal business brought Jay Gatsby great wealth and power, but not the love of the only one for whom he achieved all this. He is just an ordinary person with a dream – to break into the upper world and marry Daisy, a girl of a privileged class. This exemplifies how achieving success and happiness can be difficult, even when one has achieved financial success, as Gatsby has. Thus, the American Dream is a vague and indefinite “pursuit of happiness” since social class and origin have more weight than financial success.
Indeed, Gatsby is aware of the class structure in America, for a true meritocracy would allow him to associate with the best people, but under the status quo, he is kept at arm’s length. Gatsby desperately tries to fake his status, even buying British shirts and claiming to have studied at Oxford to justify his societal position. In the end, however, the class divide separates Gatsby and Daisy and solidifies the latter’s relationship with her husband, who belongs to the same class as she does.
Moreover, through the characters of Tom and Daisy, Fitzgerald emphasizes how money and power are associated with devastating consequences, corruption, and entitlement. Tom and Daisy are selfish, arrogant, and out of touch with the world, suggesting that their wealth and power have given them a false sense of entitlement. As representatives of the elite of the old material world, they believe they have many privileges, allowing them to surpass the lower classes.
The author additionally demonstrates the difficulty of bridging the gap between the social classes and the impossibility of a true connection between them. For example, when Gatsby and Daisy reunite, an awkwardness suggests that even though they have deep feelings for one another, they cannot ignore the social divide that separates them. The Buchanans look down on Gatsby as someone not of their social class, while Gatsby is envious of the wealth and status the Buchanans possess. This tension is further highlighted by the fact that Daisy ultimately chooses to stay with Tom, the symbol of the old money class, instead of Gatsby, the symbol of the new money class.
Nick Carraway, pivotal in The Great Gatsby, acts as the book’s moral focus. His function in the novel is to contrast the wealthy and influential characters with his middle-class background. Nick is frequently drawn to the luxury and glitz of the rich, but he is conscious of their existence’s hollowness and “moral bankruptcy.” He serves to highlight the idea of the danger of unbridled greed in the story and acts as a reminder to the reader of the effects of unchecked ambition and materialism.
How Fitzgerald portrays George Wilson demonstrates how the wealthy can exploit people from lesser socioeconomic classes. The rich Tom Buchanan seduces Myrtle away from Wilson, a working-class mechanic married to Myrtle. Given that Wilson cannot act against the wealthy Buchanan, this shows how social status and money can triumph over morality and justice. It emphasizes how unjust the social structure is since Wilson, who is in a lesser social position than Buchanan, cannot take advantage of the same chances. This is an example of how the wealthy can oppress less fortunate people by abusing their privilege and authority.
The tragic end of Gatsby serves as a stark warning about the perils of pursuing the American Dream without moral restraint. His desire for fame, fortune, and power comes at the expense of his and other people’s values. To succeed, he is prepared to breach the law, and he is prepared to go to any lengths to fulfill his dreams. His passing demonstrates that the American Dream cannot be realized via wealth and power alone and that success must be built on respect for the rule of law and the welfare of others.
Disillusionment
Scott Fitzgerald uses the theme of disillusionment in The Great Gatsby to highlight the contrast between the American Dream’s goals and the realities of life. A pervasive disillusionment permeates the entire book as the characters’ fantasies of riches, love, and success are repeatedly dashed. Nick Carraway, who frequently questions the viability of the American Dream, is a prominent example of this theme. He is continually reminded of society’s unfairness because the powerful and wealthy can act immorally without consequence. Daisy’s infidelity and Gatsby’s fruitless efforts to relive the past add to this disillusionment. Gatsby is the only one striving to make his American dream a reality; that is what makes him “great. But the time for such great aspirations has passed: greed and dishonesty have irrevocably corrupted the American dream and the dreams of individual Americans.
In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s obsession with the woman he adores, Daisy Buchanan, motivates him. He is convinced he can win Daisy’s love if he amasses enough wealth and prestige. To accomplish this, Gatsby goes to great lengths, including hosting extravagant parties and purchasing a mansion close to Daisy’s house. Gatsby attempts, but his scheme falls flat, leaving him disappointed. Realizing that he cannot buy or win Daisy’s affection, he is forced to face the results of his actions. Gatsby’s effort to win Daisy’s love emphasizes the theme of disillusionment in the book by showing that wealth and social standing do not guarantee success.
In the text, Daisy Buchanan’s character symbolizes disillusionment with the American Dream. The novel portrays Daisy as a worldly woman who values wealth and status more than morality or loyalty. She is constantly searching for a luxurious lifestyle and is never satisfied with what she has. This is evident when she leaves her husband, Tom, for the wealthy Jay Gatsby, only to return when Gatsby’s wealth disappears. Daisy’s lack of commitment to Gatsby or her husband reflects the emptiness of the pursuit of the American Dream and the false promises it offers. By the novel’s end, Daisy is still stuck in a loveless marriage and is even more disconnected from what she truly wants. Daisy’s character serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of chasing after the American Dream.
The wealthy upper class of East Egg also consistently rejects Jay Gatsby’s efforts to realize the American Dream. This is a perfect example of how the American Dream has been abandoned. The upper class always looks down on Gatsby despite his efforts to amass fortune and prominence through his extravagant parties and way of life. They see him as an outsider, someone on a lower social level than them, and unworthy of their respect. This stands in direct contrast to Gatsby’s notion of the American Dream, which emphasizes achievement and hard effort as the means to success. Gatsby is continually reminded that his efforts will never be enough for the affluent upper class, despite his passion and energy. This serves to emphasize the American Dream disappointment that many individuals experience nowadays. The American Dream is inspiring, but not everyone can achieve it, no matter how hard they try. The Great Gatsby delivers a strong message in this regard.
In the book, Gatsby’s naivete and lack of self-awareness are significant causes of his disillusionment. Even though they have been married for many years, he idealizes Daisy and thinks she will leave Tom for him. Daisy won’t leave her husband, but Gatsby is unaware of this and finds it difficult to accept the unpleasant truth. Gatsby is also blind to the effects of his actions and the true nature of those around him. He foolishly thinks that his wealth and influence will help him win Daisy, but he doesn’t realize that she has no interest in him. Because he has put all of his hope in a dream that can never come true, Gatsby becomes disillusioned due to his inability to see the truth.
Gatsby’s friendship with Meyer Wolfshiem serves as another example of his disappointment. Despite knowing this man is a criminal, Gatsby prefers to befriend him. Gatsby thinks Meyer’s contacts will enable him to realize his desire for Daisy to return. Wolfshiem’s illicit activities make it more difficult for Gatsby to fulfill his ambition, but he cannot see this. Gatsby cannot comprehend why Wolfshiem cannot offer him the same assistance. Ultimately, Gatsby trusts the incorrect person, causing him to move farther from his objectives rather than closer to them.
Love and Marriage
Scott Fitzgerald presents a prominent topic of love and marriage in The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald illustrates the damaging impact of consumerism on the search for true love and interpersonal relationships through the relationships between the characters. Fitzgerald demonstrates the effects of a society that has gotten fixated on wealth and position via the love tales of the protagonists. The American Dream is nothing more than an artificial diamond; it is affordable but less valuable than a real diamond. In a figurative sense, this description reveals Gatsby’s aspirations to win Daisy’s heart. He “buys” her feelings, which are not real because she values money, rich life, and status above love feelings.
The romance between Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby brings The Great Gatsby’s topic of love and marriage to light. Daisy is still married to Tom, even though Jay Gatsby is madly in love with her. Daisy exemplifies money’s influence on relationships by refusing to leave Tom for Jay. Daisy is an example of how materialism can ruin a relationship since she values money, social prestige, and material items more than her feelings. This is further demonstrated by the fact that Daisy comes from an established family of old money, but Jay is a self-made man who has attained fortune and prestige through hard effort. Daisy’s choice to stick with Tom, wealthier and more well-connected than Jay, is a glaring example of how money can affect a person’s decisions and morals.
Gatsby is driven by his obsession with Daisy, rooted in his desire to attain wealth and status. Her beauty and connections to wealth entrance him, and he idealizes her as the embodiment of a perfect life. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is never reciprocated, as she is too entrenched in her world of wealth and privilege to understand his feelings. Ultimately, Gatsby’s pursuit of Daisy is futile, as his love is based on a false image of Daisy and his unrealistic dreams of success. The novel is a cautionary tale, showing how pursuing material wealth can lead to empty and unfulfilling relationships.
Furthermore, the novel examines the role of infidelity in relationships by exploring Daisy’s affair with Gatsby. Daisy takes advantage of Gatsby and deftly manipulates him; she is empty, reckless, and too petty for a man of such a wide soul as Gatsby. Daisy’s affair is a result of her unhappiness and dissatisfaction with her marriage, demonstrating the instability and immorality of relationships in the era. The affair results from pursuing wealth and status, as Gatsby has been trying to win Daisy’s affection since he first saw her in a wealthy neighborhood. Through Daisy’s affair, the novel reveals the dangers of such pursuits and suggests that relationships should not be based solely on money, status, and power. It emphasizes the importance of trust and loyalty in relationships. By examining the consequences of Daisy’s affair, the novel explores the complexity of relationships and their fragility when one partner is unfaithful.
F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Jordan Baker to examine the subject of love and marriage in The Great Gatsby. Jordan and Nick Carraway are in a relationship, although she is more intrigued by the prospect of marriage than the concept of being with Nick. This implies that love is no longer a prerequisite for a fulfilling relationship, and marriage has devolved into little more than a formality. Jordan’s outlook reflects the era’s shifting attitudes at a period when marriage was becoming more and more of a business transaction. Jordan’s actions imply that marriage was becoming seen more as a legal contract than a meaningful connection. That love was no longer considered a vital component of a successful marriage. Jordan’s willingness to wed a man she doesn’t love just for the sake of convenience emphasizes this idea even more. As a result, Jordan Baker’s persona serves to highlight how the times had changed and how marriage and love were no longer perceived as being inextricably intertwined.
The figure of Myrtle Wilson serves as a vehicle for a thorough examination of the concepts of love and marriage in The Great Gatsby. Myrtle is married to George Wilson but sees Tom Buchanan, a rich guy who may provide her with prestige and fortune. Myrtle is willing to put her marriage at risk by having this affair to obtain these material benefits. This demonstrates how materialism can ruin a marriage and the chance for true love to exist between two people. Myrtle’s willingness to sacrifice her marriage for hedonistic rewards shows the importance of money and status in a culture that values genuine love and connection.
Conclusion
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby addresses the ideas of the American Dream within the framework of social class, disillusionment, love, and marriage. After all, social status and origin are the main obstacles to achieving the cherished dream, and from realizing this circumstance comes disappointment in the results achieved. Being rich, Gatsby realizes how pathetic he is, and no matter how hard he tries, he cannot rise higher in social status since his parents were ordinary farmers. He wants to join the circle of higher persons, but they, in turn, do not accept Gatsby because of his “poor” origin and laugh at him in every possible way.
Moreover, disappointment in love comes when he realizes that Daisy does not love him. Gatsby cannot “buy” her sincerity, especially when marrying this girl, because of his low status. The American dream, in the author’s understanding, is not only not available to everyone but also is different from what people imagine it to be because money, power, and entertainment are not in themselves a guarantee of happiness, well-being, and love.
Bibliography
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Long Island: Kiddy Monster Publication, 2015. Web.