Analyzing Perspectives from Literature and Poetry
The Great Gatsby Specific View
Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of the American Dream is a central theme in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. However, Gatsby’s version of the American Dream is deeply flawed and ultimately unattainable. Really, there was no “American Dream” for Jay. He was caught up in a memory and realizes Daisy is not the woman he fell in love with. The affair collapsed because Daisy was too stubborn to give up her social status for a man who is almost the complete opposite of her. Gatsby can’t help himself; all he can do is live in the past. He acts like nothing ever happened between him and Daisy, like she didn’t marry Tom or like they were never split. Gatsby is overall restless, “running down like an overwound clock.” Gatsby doesn’t trust himself enough to draw a clue about Daisy’s feelings towards him.
Gatsby has little to no dream at all because all he sees is himself with Daisy, but then he realizes Daisy isn’t all that he thought she was. In the book, “Oh, you want too much!” she cried to Gatsby. “I love you now – isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.” She began to sob helplessly. “I did love him once – but I loved you too.” This quote shows that Gatsby is falling for the Daisy that isn’t the real Daisy. He doesn’t realize that she won’t be the same ever again. Gatsby’s idealism blinds him to the reality of who Daisy has become, and his inability to reconcile the past with the present ultimately leads to his downfall. His relentless pursuit of an unattainable dream serves as a critique of the broader American Dream, suggesting that it can be an illusion that leads to self-destruction.
Harlem Renaissance Poem Specific View
Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson provides another perspective on the American Dream, one that contrasts sharply with Gatsby’s experience but ultimately converges on similar themes of disillusionment. The poem was written as the outside world looking into the life of Richard Cory. Essentially, the poem is about people despising Richard because he is wealthy and how crisp and perfect he is. For example, it states, “He was a gentleman from sole to crown. Clean favored, and imperially slim.” It shows that people were jealous of him and his life. The poem then goes on and talks about “we” the person or people who wrote the poem, discussing how poorly treated they were by Richard, saying, “to make us wish we were in his place… and went without meat and cursed the bread.” At the end, Richard ends up committing suicide, almost like being rich was too much for him.
This poem reflects on the idea that external appearances of success and wealth do not necessarily correlate with internal happiness and fulfillment. Richard Cory’s wealth isolates him from the community and creates a barrier that prevents genuine human connections. His suicide reveals the hollowness of material success and the limitations of the American Dream when it is solely defined by wealth and status.
Cross Analysis
In comparison, these stories may seem like complete opposites, but they both relate to the central theme of the disillusionment with the American Dream. Gatsby wishes that he could be with Daisy and eventually does get with her, but it doesn’t appear that it was all he thought it was. Similarly, Richard Cory has a rags-to-riches story just like Gatsby. Everyone dreams of being rich, and Richard had that dream and achieved it, but then he realized that being rich isn’t everything he thought it was, thus giving him the illusion that life sucks and pushing him to commit suicide. “Yes, richer than a king- and admirably schooled in every grace” shows that Richard had no reason to throw his life away; he had everything he wanted but assumed being rich gave him the persona of being a monster to the public. “In fine, we thought he was everything” indicates that even the people who envied him couldn’t figure out why he was so unhappy.
These narratives underscore the idea that the American Dream, when defined narrowly by material success, can lead to a profound sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction. They suggest that the true fulfillment comes from intrinsic values and personal connections rather than external achievements.
Academic Perspectives
From a psychological standpoint, the theories of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are highly relevant to understanding the failures of Gatsby and Richard Cory in achieving the American Dream. According to Deci and Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory (2000), individuals who pursue extrinsic goals, such as wealth and fame, are less likely to achieve well-being compared to those who pursue intrinsic goals like personal growth and relationships. Both Gatsby and Cory epitomize the pursuit of extrinsic goals, which ultimately leaves them unfulfilled and leads to their tragic ends.
In terms of sociological theory, Robert Merton’s Strain Theory (1938) can be applied to these characters. Merton posits that societal pressures to achieve culturally defined goals, such as the American Dream, can lead individuals to engage in deviant behavior when legitimate means of achieving these goals are blocked. Gatsby’s involvement in illegal activities to gain wealth and status can be seen as a response to the strain imposed by the unattainable nature of the American Dream.
My Vision
My vision of the American Dream is living stress-free. Living like it should be, living without worry, insecurities, depression, and so on. I’m not saying that the American Dream will be perfect, but it will be pretty close; it will always have its imperfections. In line with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943), true fulfillment comes from achieving self-actualization and meeting one’s psychological and self-fulfillment needs, rather than just material success. The American Dream should be about achieving a balance between personal well-being, meaningful relationships, and contributing to society, rather than an obsessive pursuit of wealth and status.
Furthermore, embracing a holistic view of the American Dream aligns with the principles of Positive Psychology, as advocated by Martin Seligman (2002). This approach emphasizes the importance of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments (PERMA) in achieving a fulfilling and happy life. By focusing on these intrinsic aspects, the American Dream can be redefined to promote a more sustainable and satisfying path to success.
Conclusion
The narratives of Jay Gatsby and Richard Cory offer profound critiques of the American Dream, highlighting its potential for disillusionment when pursued solely through materialistic and extrinsic means. Their stories serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of defining success through wealth and status, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic values and personal fulfillment. Academic theories from psychology and sociology further elucidate the challenges and implications of pursuing the American Dream. Ultimately, a redefined vision of the American Dream, centered on well-being, meaningful relationships, and personal growth, can offer a more attainable and fulfilling path to success.