The American Dream In The Great Gatsby
The American Dream is the perfect life! Everyone has it all; big house, picket fence, rose bushes, good job, and love. In the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the American Dream is represented by romance, wealth, and enjoying life. The theme of the American Dream is portrayed through the love affairs and interests of the Great Gatsby. Tom and Daisy supposedly have the perfect marriage, but only because of lies and secrets. “Tom’s got some woman in New York…” (19). Their relationship is happy, go-lucky even though he’s having an affair. Gatsby’s past relationship with Daisy shows the American Dream theme. “The officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at sometime…” (80). They were
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young and had a whole successful and happy future ahead of them. The relationship between George and Myrtle Wilson was more of a disillusioned American Dream. “His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate, were slipping precipitately from his control…”(130)She was having an affair with Tom, meaning she had an unhappy marriage, but eventually lost it all anyway. The troubled relationships present the theme of the American Dream in a contrasting way, showing the futility of it. Wealth and riches represent the American Dream in The Great Gatsby with the lavish parties, extravagant spending, and magnificent mansions.
Gatsby threw huge parties all the time. “On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city, between nine in the morning and long past midnight…” (43). His parties lasted all night, and he was wealthy enough to transport all his party-goers. Gatsby was also frivolous with his spending. “Every Friday, five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York…”(43). Those fruits would cost tons of money, and he was able to purchase them every weekend. He also spent money on entertainment. “By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived-no thin five piece affair but the whole pit full of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos and low and high drums.”(44). A large orchestra would need to be paid an awful lot more then pennies to perform for a party; Gatsby was living the American Dream with his wealth creating happiness for everyone. The people of East and West Egg lived in mansions, which is part of the American Dream concept. “The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard-it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby’s Mansion.” (9). Most people want to live luxuriously and Gatsby
did just that; his home was a mansion. The theme of the American Dream, and being successful enough to live in luxury, is portrayed through the wealth and riches expressed throughout the novel. The daily life of the main characters expresses the relaxed part of the American Dream by the tea parties, family dinners, and laziness. The characters rarely go to work; they get together to have tea, lunch, or some sort of meal almost daily. “…you’re just supposed to invite her to tea.”(85). It was nonchalant and they just spent their days enjoying each other’s company which is something everyone would consider the American Dream. A lot of families nowadays don’t get to have meals together, especially distant family. “…I drove over there to have dinner with the Tom Buchanans. Daisy was my second cousin once removed and I’d known Tom in college.”(10). They were able to get together often, part of the American Dream. Out of the many characters, we really only know of Nick Caraway having a job. “…so I decided to go east and learn the bond business.”(7). He went to work while everyone else just relaxed and took in all their wealth. The American Dream is seen in the tea parties, family outings, and jobs of the main characters in that they enjoy their relaxing time together. Overall, the theme is tied together by romance, wealth, and enjoyment of the little things these elements occurring and reoccurring throughout the novel. The American Dream is represented by these elements in the Great Gatsby. Even Gatsby got to live the American Dream-the perfect life-big house, picket fence, good job, and love.
young and had a whole successful and happy future ahead of them. The relationship between George and Myrtle Wilson was more of a disillusioned American Dream. “His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate, were slipping precipitately from his control…”(130)She was having an affair with Tom, meaning she had an unhappy marriage, but eventually lost it all anyway. The troubled relationships present the theme of the American Dream in a contrasting way, showing the futility of it. Wealth and riches represent the American Dream in The Great Gatsby with the lavish parties, extravagant spending, and magnificent mansions.
Gatsby threw huge parties all the time. “On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city, between nine in the morning and long past midnight…” (43). His parties lasted all night, and he was wealthy enough to transport all his party-goers. Gatsby was also frivolous with his spending. “Every Friday, five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York…”(43). Those fruits would cost tons of money, and he was able to purchase them every weekend. He also spent money on entertainment. “By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived-no thin five piece affair but the whole pit full of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos and low and high drums.”(44). A large orchestra would need to be paid an awful lot more then pennies to perform for a party; Gatsby was living the American Dream with his wealth creating happiness for everyone. The people of East and West Egg lived in mansions, which is part of the American Dream concept. “The one on my right was a colossal affair by any standard-it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby’s Mansion.” (9). Most people want to live luxuriously and Gatsby
did just that; his home was a mansion. The theme of the American Dream, and being successful enough to live in luxury, is portrayed through the wealth and riches expressed throughout the novel. The daily life of the main characters expresses the relaxed part of the American Dream by the tea parties, family dinners, and laziness. The characters rarely go to work; they get together to have tea, lunch, or some sort of meal almost daily. “…you’re just supposed to invite her to tea.”(85). It was nonchalant and they just spent their days enjoying each other’s company which is something everyone would consider the American Dream. A lot of families nowadays don’t get to have meals together, especially distant family. “…I drove over there to have dinner with the Tom Buchanans. Daisy was my second cousin once removed and I’d known Tom in college.”(10). They were able to get together often, part of the American Dream. Out of the many characters, we really only know of Nick Caraway having a job. “…so I decided to go east and learn the bond business.”(7). He went to work while everyone else just relaxed and took in all their wealth. The American Dream is seen in the tea parties, family outings, and jobs of the main characters in that they enjoy their relaxing time together. Overall, the theme is tied together by romance, wealth, and enjoyment of the little things these elements occurring and reoccurring throughout the novel. The American Dream is represented by these elements in the Great Gatsby. Even Gatsby got to live the American Dream-the perfect life-big house, picket fence, good job, and love.