The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a story of people reaching for the American Dream. This story takes place at a time when people believed that they could make it rich doing something, as Gatsby did. What did he do, though? He resorted to a life of crime. F. Scott Fitzgerald is trying to convey that the American Dream is really unattainable, and it is just in people’s heads.
Jay Gatsby was a poor boy who decided he wanted to get rich. He set out to be successful, and he was, just at selling illegal alcohol and such. Gatsby’s illicit activities are a reflection of the lengths to which individuals might go in their pursuit of wealth and status, driven by the allure of the American Dream. He did this ultimately to win back a girl who left him when he went into the war. Gatsby’s motivation highlights a central theme in the novel: the intersection of love and ambition in the quest for fulfillment. Did Gatsby reach his dream? Not necessarily. He didn’t reach the American Dream because, one, he died, and two, he got the girl that he longed for and did everything to get. The American Dream was simply not within his grasp. This is shown when Fitzgerald states, “’If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay,’ said Gatsby. ‘You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.’ Daisy put her arm through his abruptly, but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said. Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy, it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.” (Fitzgerald, Ch. 5). When Gatsby got Daisy, he realized that he was not satisfied and probably wondered if the dream is just a real dream. This moment underscores the novel’s exploration of the ephemeral nature of dreams and the elusive quality of true happiness.
Myrtle and George Wilson are in a not-so-healthy marriage. Both are looking for a way out of their current situation as shop owners, but Myrtle feels trapped in her relationship, and she gets together with Tom Buchanan and throws parties and pretends to live this lavish lifestyle. Myrtle’s actions reflect her desperate attempt to transcend her social class and achieve the American Dream, even if it means engaging in an affair and deceiving herself about her reality. She really wants to live the American Dream, and she is blinded to the love that she is receiving from Tom. She believes that Tom is in love with her when it’s merely playtime for Tom. Her American Dream is just a dream because, as I said before, she throws these parties and dresses the part, but she is barely middle-class. This is shown when the essayist says, “’I told that boy about the ice.’ Myrtle raised her eyebrows in despair at the shiftlessness of the lower orders. ‘These people! You have to keep after them all the time.’” (Fitzgerald, Ch. 2). By acting like this, she is just putting on a facade to make herself feel better. Myrtle’s behavior and ultimate fate highlight the destructive nature of the unattainable dream she chases.
The last person that we are going to look at is Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is the lover of Gatsby until she leaves him for Tom, a man that is more intelligent than Gatsby and forces Gatsby to dedicate his life to winning Daisy back. Daisy is a character that is beautiful on the outside but evil on the inside, and she is made out to be someone who hides behind money all the time. She is the picture of the American Dream because the essayist shows this when he states, “’Here, deares’.’ She groped around in a waste-basket she had with her on the bed and pulled out the string of pearls. ‘Take ’em down-stairs and give ’em back to whoever they belong to. Tell ’em all Daisy’s change’ her mind. Say: ‘Daisy’s change’ her mind!'” (Fitzgerald, Ch. 4). This shows that she sticks with the money and not the love that she ultimately deserves. She is really trying to reach for something that’s not there, the American Dream. Daisy’s actions and decisions illustrate the moral decay and superficiality that Fitzgerald associates with the pursuit of wealth and status.
All these characters show some reach for the American Dream that is supposedly there. Fitzgerald is here to show that the dream stays a dream and the person that tries to take it is going to crumble and fall, as all our characters did in this story. F. Scott Fitzgerald is here to show that the American Dream is unattainable. Gatsby, Myrtle, and Daisy each represent different facets of the American Dream and its inherent flaws. Through their stories, Fitzgerald critiques the idea that wealth and social status can lead to true happiness and fulfillment.
Gatsby’s tragic end is a poignant commentary on the hollowness of his pursuits. Despite his immense wealth and grand parties, he remains isolated and disconnected from genuine human relationships. His fixation on Daisy and his belief that he can recreate the past ultimately lead to his downfall. This reflects the dangers of an obsessive quest for an idealized dream that is rooted in illusion and nostalgia.
Myrtle’s story is equally tragic. Her affair with Tom and her attempts to mimic the lifestyle of the wealthy only serve to highlight her desperation and the futility of her dreams. Her tragic death underscores the destructiveness of her aspirations and the brutal reality of her social position. She is used and discarded by Tom, who remains indifferent to her plight, showcasing the callousness of those who already possess the wealth and status she desires.
Daisy, on the other hand, embodies the corrupting influence of wealth. Her choices are driven by a desire to maintain her privileged status, even at the expense of others. She is unable to break free from her gilded cage, illustrating the emptiness of a life built on materialism and superficial charm. Her ultimate return to Tom, despite his infidelities and her supposed love for Gatsby, underscores her commitment to maintaining her social position rather than seeking genuine emotional fulfillment.
Fitzgerald’s portrayal of these characters and their doomed pursuits serves as a broader critique of the American Dream itself. He suggests that the dream, as it is popularly conceived, is inherently flawed and unattainable. The novel implies that the relentless pursuit of wealth, status, and idealized love leads not to happiness but to destruction and disillusionment. This critique is particularly relevant in the context of the 1920s, a period marked by economic prosperity and cultural change but also by significant social and moral upheaval.
Moreover, the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, a recurring symbol throughout the novel, represents the elusive nature of the American Dream. For Gatsby, it symbolizes his hopes and dreams for the future, his desire to reclaim the past, and his unyielding belief in the possibility of achieving his ideals. Yet, as he reaches for the light, it remains distant and unattainable, a constant reminder of the gap between reality and aspiration.
In conclusion, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald serves as a powerful exploration and critique of the American Dream. Through the lives and fates of Gatsby, Myrtle, and Daisy, Fitzgerald illustrates the dream’s inherent contradictions and the inevitable disillusionment that accompanies its pursuit. The novel remains a timeless reflection on the human condition, the complexities of desire, and the ultimate futility of chasing an ideal that is perpetually out of reach. By retaining the original content and expanding upon the themes and characters, we see how Fitzgerald masterfully deconstructs the myth of the American Dream, revealing it to be a mirage that leads to inevitable downfall.
Gatsby’s tragic journey, from his impoverished beginnings to his rise as a wealthy socialite, only to end in loneliness and death, underscores the emptiness of the American Dream when it is built on illegal activities and unfulfilled love. His relentless pursuit of Daisy, who represents his ultimate dream, ends in disillusionment when he realizes that she can never truly be his. This realization comes too late, as Gatsby’s idealism blinds him to the harsh realities of life and the limitations of his dreams.
Myrtle’s illusion of grandeur and her desperate attempts to escape her unhappy marriage by associating with Tom Buchanan end tragically as well. Her tragic fate serves as a harsh reminder of the perils of reaching for a dream that is beyond one’s grasp. Myrtle’s actions and ultimate demise reveal the destructiveness of blind ambition and the futility of aspiring to a life that is not grounded in reality.
Daisy, while seemingly achieving the American Dream with her beauty, wealth, and social status, is ultimately portrayed as hollow and unfulfilled. Her superficiality and inability to commit to true love highlight the moral decay that Fitzgerald sees as inherent in the pursuit of wealth and status. Daisy’s actions demonstrate how the American Dream can corrupt individuals, leading them to make choices that prioritize material wealth over genuine human connections and moral integrity.
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses these characters to illustrate the flawed nature of the American Dream. He critiques the notion that wealth and social status can bring true happiness and fulfillment, showing instead that these pursuits often lead to moral decay, disillusionment, and tragedy. Through Gatsby, Myrtle, and Daisy, Fitzgerald explores the complexities of human desire and the ultimate futility of chasing an ideal that is inherently unattainable.
The novel’s enduring relevance lies in its profound commentary on the human condition and the elusive nature of happiness. The Great Gatsby remains a poignant reflection on the American Dream, its promises, and its pitfalls, reminding readers that true fulfillment lies not in the relentless pursuit of wealth and status, but in genuine human connections and a life grounded in reality and moral integrity.