Corruption Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

In both The Great Gatsby and Into the WIld, the ominous notion of the American Dream is present. In Gatsby, Jay Gatsby epitomizes the corruption of the American Dream; where immense wealth and social status is the Dream everyone strives for. The incessant need to obtain more money and a higher status, and to never be satisfied. Gatsby embodies the warped vision that wealth and prosperity will solve all your problems. Alex McCandless in Into the Wild, completely rejects the theory of the American Dream, forgoing his worldly possessions, and the materialism surrounding his life, caused by his parents. McCandless instead, chooses to pursue a life in the wilderness to experience the real definition of life. “...there is no greater joy than to have
an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life [...] you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life…” Both men define their lives around the American Dream and it’s grasp on their society.