Q1. Re-read Nick’s account of Gatsby’s past. Do you think that Gatsby achieved the American Dream?
The start of this chapter begins with a inquisitive reporter turning up on Gatsby’s doorstep who is hoping to find out some truth in the rumours that will make a good story. The rumours have made Gatsby just short of being news and expanded Gatsby’s identity beyond what he could actually be. The rumours were that Gatsby gained his fortune from his rich older friend Cody who employed Gatsby after meeting him and buying him clothes. He was employed to work on his yacht and to run it when Cody was under the consumption of alcohol. Cody was a millionaire over many of times; he made all his millions in the copper business. There was a point were Gatsby recalled a women called Ella Kaye who came on to Cody’s boat one night and then the next day Cody died but, the strange thing was that Gatsby did not inherit his money, Ella Kaye inherited after his death even though she could have been the cause of his misfortune and death. I believe overall, Dan Cody was young Gatsby’s example of the American dream. However, Cody had questionable morals such as; “he brought back the savage violence of the frontier brothel and saloon.” Gatsby followed Cody’s example achieving his wealth through immoral means. Gatsby’s pursuit of the American dream eventually turned into a pursuit of wealth and his dreams of being a great man became corrupted. When Gatsby met Daisy his dream of wealth and status however, was replaced by a dream of being with her. For the older Gatsby she represents the American dream and everything that he hoped to achieve. Although, we see during this chapter at Gatsby dinner party that after Daisy leaves Gatsby keeps Nick behind to speak to him and he says, “She didn’t like it” and Nick replies, “Of course she did” followed by Gatsby saying, “She didn’t like it, She didn’t have a good time!”. This shows that Gatsby was more concerned with Daisy having a good time than the party itself and that all that mattered was that she was kept happy showing his true and passionate love for her, reinforcing the reference of Daisy being the American dream. Also, at the end of chapter six, we see further love for Daisy from Gatsby when Nick says, “He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say I never loved you.” After this Gatsby goes on to say, “After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures to be taken. One of them was that, after she was free, they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house – just as if it were five years ago.” This is a good quote from chapter six; it really shows how much Gatsby loved her and wanted her. The wanting her represents him wanting the American dream just like he wanted her. In conclusion, I believe Gatsby gained the American dream on the money side of it but lost out on the love and family side of the American dream when he lost Daisy. Gatsby doesn’t seem happy with his life, he knows all these important people but he doesn’t even talk properly to them apart from small talk. Also, he isn’t married and has no one to share his life with so that’s why I think he has lost out on the family and love side of the American dream.
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