In the novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Of Mice and Men’ F Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck respectively explore the complex perspective of the true outcome of the American Dream. Although set within different eras of American society, the extensive failure of dreams throughout both texts shows how the American Dream is destined for annihilation despite the intention of hope and happiness. In its original form the American Dream encapsulated the ideal that ‘equality of opportunity is available to any American allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved’. ‘The Great Gatsby’ follows its protagonist Jay Gatsby who sets his life around his desire of reuniting Daisy Buchanan, the lost love of his life, through the eyes of Nick Caraway. Alternatively, ‘Of Mice and Men’ accompanies George and Lennie’s ambition to own their own ranch, despite the hurdles caused by Lennie’s obvious disabilities. Both texts explore the dream for hope and prosperity, money and materialism while also investigating moral corruption and society’s divisions in addition to the consequence and failure of trusting the morality of the American Dream.
The power of the American Dream lies within its mystical qualities and is destroyed once it is supposedly achieved and becomes reality. This is evident within ‘The Great Gatsby’ where we realise that everything Gatsby does is in his quest to reunite with his dream girl, Daisy. Despite being a vulnerable and tormented dreamer, as is present when he reaches for the green light on Daisy’s dock across the bay, Gatsby showcases his lavish lifestyle believing
that money can truly reunify his everlasting love for Daisy. Similarly, in ‘Of Mice and Men’ George and Lennie is seen as products of the American Dream when Lennie continuously reminds George of their hope to one day live on their own ranch. Unlike Gatsby, George Milton doesn’t necessarily believe in the possibility of his dream becoming reality until Candy’s proposal. This exemplifies George’s understanding of the circumstances of his life and being a simple ranch worker not an owner. “We got a future…”, “an live’ off the fat of the land” evidently shows how George and Lennie believe in the reality of the hope for the future. Crooks however dismisses these beliefs by referencing other ranch workers, “hundreds of men”, to be exact, who have the same aspirations of owning their own land but “God damn one of em’ ever gets it.” The culmination of both texts simply resides that once the potential of the American Dream becomes a reality it results in the collapse of everyone’s dreams and aspirations.
The social hierarchy is influenced by the amount of money one owns which determines whether one can attain their dream. By creating apparent social classes within ‘The Great Gatsby’ – old money, new money and no money, Fitzgerald strongly suggests that American society is intensely stigmatised. Daisy, Tom and Jordan represent the elite social class of society where despite their problems and failures they are always protected and immune by their wealth. Tom refers to Gatsby as ‘Mr Nobody from nowhere” and a “common swindler who would have to steal the ring he put on her finger” as he boasts about his hereditary wealth compared to the other distinct elite group of society who acquire their wealth through business deals, which are sometimes corrupt. Although Fitzgerald mainly attacks the rich, by making them look judgemental, superior and selfish, evidently the lower class of society are vulnerable within American society. This is shown where so many, like Myrtle, are trapped within the Valley of Ashes. Myrtle tries to move up the social hierarchy by poorly acting as an elite high-class lady of society. This leads her into her detrimental affair with Tom Buchanan, on top of her complex relationship with her husband George resulting tangled and tragic death. Likewise, in ‘Of Mice and Men’ George and Lennie are infatuated with obtaining enough money in order to purchase their own ranch. They are determined to move through the social divisions of society, to no longer work on a ranch, but own a ranch. This however poses a challenge to achieve due to Lennie’s unpredictable and harmless behaviour. Steinbeck exhibits the belief that one can never move up the social hierarchy of American society no matter how much they try. In addition, Curly’s wife is also expresses the belief of a better life she was offered in Hollywood; however, this displays how caught up she is in American Dream’s philosophy. Steinbeck also reveals the deep emotion of loneliness, isolation and weakness that comes with being poor from a low social class. Although Fitzgerald captures the frenzy of American city life and Steinbeck captures the simplicity and complications of American outback life, both display the difficulty of the stratification of social levels and gaining wealth.
Moral corruption and illusions dominates an underlying aspect of the failure on ones hopes for success. Within ‘The Great Gatsby’, Gatsby is the embodiment of an illusionist with a corrupt mindset where he believes that he can change the past and move on with Daisy by his side, happily ever after. However, Daisy’s complex and twisted thoughts corrupt her sole dedication and affirmation to join Gatsby in creating their new life together. Fitzgerald represents Daisy as being pure, by dressing her in white, but highlights her obsession with wealth symbolised by gold. This is the embodiment of her namesake which derives from the Daisy flower. Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson also personify being morally corrupt when they have no problem in having an extra marital affair. Myrtle insinuates that her husband is “so dumb he doesn’t even know his alive”, whilst makes Tom makes no secret in his hiding is affair around Daisy displaying his arrogance and contributing to Daisy’s corrupt thoughts. Daisy is scared of being without her wealth and materialism which entirely factors upon her decision to remain with Tom. Similarly, in ‘Of Mice and Men’ George and Lennie are corrupted by their workplace and being alienated from the outside world. Obviously, Lennie is corrupted by his infatuation with rabbits and worry of George’s temper. Moral issues of sexism and racism were prominent in society and Steinbeck makes the reader encapsulate the moral burden of the novella evoking doubt, pity and anger. Moral corruption is the one of the fundamental themes responsible for each character’s downfall of prosperity.
Both Fitzgerald and Steinbeck explore how the believers fall victims to the corruption, consequence and failure of the pursuit of the American Dream due to their underlying belief and everlasting trust. Fitzgerald examines how the ruthless pursuit of wealth and happiness leads to corruption of human nature and tangled moral values. The failure of the American Dream within ‘The Great Gatsby’ proves the superficial achievement of the American Dream gives no real joy or peace, but instead creates problems and complications. Fitzgerald truly justifies that no matter ones’ wealth or possessions, it cannot fulfil the real pursuit of the human heart, love and happiness. Gatsby showcases his wealth by exemplifying being “an Oxford man” who lives in mansion, hosts massive parties, while also dressing in luxurious clothing who are selected and bought by “men in England”. He does this in order to pursue his obsession to obtain Daisy’s heart. In addition, ‘Of Mice and Men’ presents a different view to the failure of the American Dream, where hard work never leads to success nor is ever rewarded. Steinbeck shows that men aren’t created equal and there is no such thing as freedom. Curly’s wife uses her dream of becoming a film star to distract her from the unhappiness and loneliness of her life, although there is no longer any real hope. Lennie’s death makes his and George’s dream impossible and confirms how modest dreams are unattainable in harsh conditions of American society.
Although the American Dream is initially a source of hope, it is fundamentally in fact an illusion after all leading to its ultimate failure. Fitzgerald explores how the dream used as a pursuit of happiness and prosperity while Steinbeck investigates how the dream is used to escape from hardship and misfortune. This is evidently proven when comparing the two eras of both texts and their location, from city to outback, of American society. This demonstrates that no matter who you are or where you come from, through whatever era of American society the philosophy of the American Dream is simply a myth of fantasy and misconception.