The American Dream

The American Dream

Thesis Statement

“Money equaled happiness show the way to ruin and weakened the model of an American dream.”

Introduction

The classic American novel, "The Great Gatsby", in writing by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, depicts the malfunction of the American illusion, from the issue of outlook that American political ideal's confrontation with the genuine communal situation that exist. (Skipp 94)

The concept of equality amidst persons constitutes American democracy; the reality is that communal discrimination still lives and the partitions amidst the categories can not be overcome. The American illusion furthermore comprises yearn for religious and material enhancement to accomplish inward happiness. (Fitzgerald 98)

 

Discussion

In his novel, Fitzgerald criticizes the American illusion by recounting its contradictory characteristics: class labors between wealthy and the poor, superficiality of the wealthy and the untrue connection between cash and happiness.

Through his novel, Fitzgerald consistently depicts the dismissal of the concept of equality, where American humanity would be free from class distinction. (Fahey 52)

"The American Dream is an American communal perfect that tensions egalitarianism and particularly material prosperity."

The novel reflects a split up humanity with quotation to the "valley of the ashes", a "dismal" and "desolate" wasteland.

The "valley of the ashes" is recounted as a symbolism of those who have failed the American illusion, it was a "fantastic ranch where ashes augment like wheat into ridges and high grounds and grotesque gardens... of ash grey men".

In compare, there was Long Island which was split up into East Egg, dwelling to the "old rich" where "white castles glittered along the water" and West Egg, "the less trendy of the two". (Fitzgerald 100)

This partition amidst categories emphasizes the worsening of an American illusion and strengthens the implication of materialism in a humanity obsessed with riches and status.

Fizgerald emphasizes that humanity has become superficial with this preoccupation with riches and possessions with quotation to the novel's major individual characteristics, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanon.

Daisy's rendering of the American illusion was founded on joy, snug dwelling with cash and influence. Her wedding ceremony alternatives were restricted to men with riches, preferably vintage inherited cash, the kind that prestige accompanies.

Daisy wed Tom Buchanon rather than of Gatsby, who was at the time "a penniless juvenile man without a past...he had no snug family standing behind him". Therefore, Daisy chose riches as her means of happiness, disregarding the need for religious happiness as well. (Skipp 98)

Gatsby's illusion was that through riches and power one can come by happiness. His parties were founded round "laughter without amusement, eagerness between outsiders, associates without companionship and life without meaning", (Schweke 2007:18)strengthening the superficiality of high class society. (Fitzgerald 102)

Comments for example "her voice is full of money...high in a white castle the king's female child, the golden girl" reflects Daisy's feature as superficial and her answer to Gatsby's lavish possessions were "it makes me miserable because I have not ever glimpsed such-such attractive tops before". This comment inside the novel accepts the enthrallment with materialism amidst humanity that is solely superficial that finally directs to the ...