Theme Of Corruption Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Throughout the last four chapters of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby continues to wear a mask in order to enhance his social status, and he is unable to attain the American dream. Essentially, these two themes relate to each other because Gatsby’s luxurious lifestyle is used as a medium to attain his American dream. He acquires millions of dollars, purchases a mansion on West Egg, and hosts lavish weekend parties in order to associate with a higher social class. Gatsby’s reputation conceals his true identity, and he uses it as a mask to win Daisy over. However, Gatsby’s corrupt nature prevents him from attaining the American dream towards the end of the novel. Firstly, Gatsby’s social status is used as a tool to attain his dream as he continually lies about his wealth. The mysterious individual states that
Although Gatsby displays a great deal of wealth, he does not possess the same status as the Buchanans due to his working-class background. Gatsby’s American Dream is impossible to attain because of the social class system in the 1920s. His heritage does not produce the same social status as the Buchanan’s heritage leading to his downfall. Daisy chooses a high social class instead of a life with Gatsby which demonstrates the importance of social status in society. Ultimately, every purchase that Gatsby makes and each party that he hosts is part of a grand scheme to win Daisy back. He holds the idea that she is a perfect human being and his only ticket to happiness. However, these unrealistically high expectations ruin their relationship when they are finally together. Gatsby expects to fall in love with the young eighteen-year-old girl that he once knew so well, but his unrealistic hopes cause him to never be satisfied with her. Essentially, this embodies a significant message in the novel in which Americans always wish to achieve more than what they already