The American Dream: The Great Gatsby Essay

A big theme in the novel, Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is the American Dream. Many people in the 1920s wanted to fulfill the great life that every wanted. This dream for many is spiritual fulfillment, monetary goals and social goals.

Gatsby always knew that he loved Daisy. After all, Gatsbys main purpose to try to reach the American dream was always for Daisy. He thought that Daisy could fill his lonely soul and they could just go back to what they used to be. Nick narrating, "He wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was." This shows that Gatsby did this all for Daisy and truly wanted her back. Gatsby had bad judgment on this aspect of his life and he lived his life a lonely man. He had one main spiritual fulfillment goal but did not reach it.

When one thinks of the American dream, many think money. The American dream couldnt be possible without the money. Gatsby wanted to live this dream to impress his one love, Daisy. When Daisy roams Gatsbys beautiful house, he tells Nick, Its the funniest thing old sport; I cant- when I try to-(pg 91). This shows that Gatsby was shocked that Daisy finally saw his riches and saw that he could afford her love. A major part in his riches was that he had no money which drove him to become a felon and sell fake bonds. Also, there was a lot of pressure from media and also society to make a lot money to spend. Gatsby indeed made a lot of money but he did not make it in a healthy manner. Instead, he stole and scammed his way to it and did not earn it. This is how money drove Gatsby to live an American dream.

Many people dream of being the best and looking the best. A part of the American dream is to want to strive to have people like you and look up to you. Gatsby showed this desire through his parties that were meaningless. Guests would come that didnt even know Gatsby and he loved it. A quote to show this example is said by Nick Carraway, "I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited--they went there." He surrounded himself with people who didnt even care about him but that didnt matter to him. What mattered to Gatsby is that people enjoyed and envied what he had. Gatsby felt obligated to make a lot of money because his poverty was the reason why Daisy didnt marry him. That made him feel like he wasnt good enough and he thought that if he had all the money and the glitz and glamour then Daisy would come running back to him. Gatsby states to Nick, "Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!" Gatsby didnt think through the dream much because this scam plan did not work. This is how Gatsby incorporated his financial goals into his American dream.

Some of the social Gatsby had was to be the best. He thought that if he was at the top of his social chain, then many people would like him and that made him feel better. The people who liked him, even more his belongings, made him feel important and wanted. Ever since Gatsby lost Daisy, he had a hole in his heart and he put a smile on and tried to fill it. The main social events that made Gatsby happy and fulfilled were his big weekend parties. These parties were such a big deal because it was occurring during probation in the 1920s when alcohol was illegal, But this didnt matter to Gatsby. Gatsby states, I keep it always full of interesting things, celebrated people. (pg 90). Whatever got him high social status, he would do. All Gatsby cared about was himself and social status, and this was very much portrayed him the Great Gatsby.

Jay Gatsby very much cheated himself through the goals and achievements of the American dream. He lied, scammed, and back stabbed his way through just to make himself look perfect in the public eye. He made himself from a lie and died with a lie but he was fine with living with that burden. After thinking, maybe everyone has a different perspective on their true American dream.