How appropriate do you think it is to label The Great Gatsby a rags to riches story

How appropriate do you think it is to label The Great Gatsby a rags to riches story?

As it is a novel set in the economic boom of 1920s America, the idea of prosperity and the American dream are certainly central themes to ‘The Great Gatsby’. Although the main protagonist, Jay Gatsby, does rise to power through wealth following his humble beginnings, Gatsby never achieves the most important part of his dream which is Daisy Buchanan. Because Gatsby never really has Daisy, the person who he acquired all his wealth for, and his life is cut short, it is perhaps more fitting to label ‘The Great Gatsby’ as a tragedy. Although the non-chronological effects of the narrative make it seem as though it is not a ‘rags to riches’ story, the story of how Gatsby comes to acquire his vast riches is still told. James Gatz is hired by a wealthy old man, Dan Cody, who found his wealth mining silver. During the time he travelled with Cody, Gatsby experienced a glamorous life far removed from his North Dakota upbringing. He attended parties with the wealthy where women were known to ‘rub champagne into his hair.’ Through his friendship with Cody Gatsby acquired a certain amount of sophistication; it is from Dan Cody that he took his infamous catch phrase ‘old sport’. Most of all, during his time with Cody, Jay Gatsby left James Gatz behind. Looking at his transformation into Jay Gatsby on his travels with Dan Cody, it would absolutely be appropriate to label ‘The Great Gatsby’ a ‘rags to riches’ story, as the whole book is essentially centered on one man and his journey to wealth. However, the book is not written from the perspective of Jay Gatsby, but from the perspective of Nick Carraway and how, in meeting Gatsby and learning of his story, his outlook on life was changed. Arguably the story is written by Nick to leave a legacy for his friend; through Nick’s retelling of his friend’s life, he is keeping Gatsby alive even after his death. It is clear throughout the story that Nick cares for and empathises with Gatsby greatly, the last thing he ever says to Gatsby being ‘you’re worth the whole damn bunch put together’. ‘The Great Gatsby’ then could be seen, not as a rags to riches story, but a story written to keep the legacy of Gatsby alive. In one sense, Gatsby's ‘rags to riches’ success story makes him an embodiment of the American dream. He started life with little, as the son of a poor family of farmers. By the time he was a young man he had even less, having removed himself from his real family, unable to accept his status in life. While on his own, he had the opportunity to reinvent himself into Jay Gatsby. From a Marxist view point ‘The Great Gatsby’ is very much a ‘rags to riches story’ as Gatsby, representing a proletariat, rises to power through his acquisition of wealth. It is explained that the money Gatsby obtains is through the bootlegging of alcohol; Gatsby sees an opportunity in prohibition and takes advantage of it. However, everything that Gatsby does in the novel, everything he buys, every party he throws, is all for the singular purpose of winning Daisy. It was money that prevented their being together when Gatsby first fell in love with Daisy, therefore he acquires his vast wealth so he can be with her. For Gatsby the American dream is not about his success, but about what the success brings him; Daisy. Hence it might be appropriate to label ‘The Great Gatsby’ a love story, opposed to a ‘rags to riches’ story, as all of his wealth means nothing without his princess. On the other hand by being so focused on his dream of Daisy, Gatsby moves further and further into a fantasy world. Eventually, it is his holding on to the unrealistic dream that leads to his death. Even when he has re-entered her affections Gatsby demands that Daisy tell Tom 'I never loved you'. Because Gatsby lives his adult life trying to recapture his past with Daisy, he falls in love with the idea of what Daisy used to be to him, hence the reality will never be enough for him. This links to the American Dream, as Fitzgerald perhaps criticises that it is flawed, as humans are always trying to take and gain as much as they can, but can never be fully satisfied. This is why ‘The Great Gatsby’ can only be labelled as a tragedy; Gatsby can never truly be happy.

Like Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson seems to dream of moving from rags to riches to obtain ultimate happiness. Myrtle tries to escape her own class and strives for happiness with the rich. She talks like she is upper class and thinks like the upper class would, ‘these people! You have to keep after them all the time’. Myrtle tries to become like Tom by having an affair with him and taking on his way of living, she becomes a kept woman and starts to rely on Tom for her happiness. It is Tom’s money that buys her nice clothes, perfume and even dog; all things that at first seem to satisfy her. However it becomes clear that Myrtle starts feeling unsatisfied with her life. Her constant clothing changes show that she is unhappy with her life as she changes personalities every time she changes her dress ‘with the influence of the dress her whole personality had also undergone a change’. Fitzgerald's portrayal of her dissatisfaction with it only shows that they remain in the transition stage from rags to riches. However Myrtle, like Gatsby, ends up gaining nothing as she fails to achieve the riches she desires and eventually she dies. Myrtle is a victim of the group she wanted to join. After all it is Gatsby’s car, a huge symbol of his wealth, which kills Myrtle. It seems that both Gatsby and Myrtle, children of the lower class, can never really achieve the American dream. Therefore the novel must be seen as a tragedy.

Although it could be seen as a rags to riches story, as James Gatz comes from nothing but transforms into Jay Gatsby a polished and sophisticated millionaire, Gatsby is never truly satisfied with his wealth. The book is centered around the idea of the American dream, however Gatsby never achieves the most important part of his, which is Daisy. Because his American dream is never fulfilled, ‘The Great Gatsby’ cannot be seen as a rags to riches story. Gatsby’s story shows the tragic consequences of trying to achieve the unachiavable.