To what extent and how do you agree with this interpretation of ‘The Great Gatsby’?
The United States Declaration of independence in 1776 stated that all people have the right to “Life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. This is seen by many to express the vital spirit of the American Dream. Any individual, no matter their culture, social class or background, should be able to reach success and achieve their ambitions through hard work. The American Dream encapsulates many aspects and ideas such as giving people hope that they can succeed and have the opportunity to achieve whatever they want too. It is supposed to be incorruptible, beautiful and idealistic. It is not solely about money, fortune and materialism, however in the 1920s, the dream of being free and successful became tainted with the desire for wealth and dream of money and possessions. Post-war, during the economic boom, almost anyone could attempt to become wealthy, however F. Scott Fitzgerald highlights clear class barriers in his novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ and the difference between ‘new’ and ‘old’ money which is exactly what the America Dream wished to avoid and how this changes the aim of the American Dream. The beauty of the American Dream is the idea that it gives all citizens the hope that they can be treated as an equal and become successful and thus life a happy and fulfilled life. However, this needs to be done in the correct way, as if the act you carry out to reach your goal is wrong, this is immoral, which shows how the American Dream was also seen as corrupt.
Some people may agree that Jay Gatsby embodies the beauty of the American Dream for various reasons. One of the main reasons for this view is the interpretation of Gatsby the narrator of the novel, Nick Carraway, gives the reader and his emphasis of the beauty of the America Dream. Nick does not idolise Gatsby due to his wealth and possessions, he aspires to be able to