Why Is The Great Gatsby The American Dream Come True
Everyone has an American dream, but not everyone is satisfied when it comes true. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby aspires to be a wealthy man. He wants to show the world that he is on top of society. If there is one way to prove that, he thinks it is money. Lots and lots of money. Gatsby, however, has an ulterior motive in earning all this money--he only wants the money to win over a woman, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby has been chasing this dream for a while now, but will it come true? And if it does, will he be content with what happens? Growing up on a farm in Nebraska, Gatsby did not have a lot of money. He tried to change that by going to college, but ended up dropping out and making his money being a yachtsman for Dan Cody. Later on, when Gatsby was 27, he met a beautiful woman named Daisy. “He knew that Daisy was extraordinary but he didn't realize just how extraordinary a ‘nice’ girl could be” (Fitzgerald 156) and that is what Gatsby liked about her. He had admired Daisy from the moment he laid eyes on her. The best thing about his infatuation was that he and Daisy
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had mutual feelings. Later in their love affair, Gatsby had realized that he loved her. After all, “she was the first ‘nice’ girl he had ever known” (Fitzgerald 155). Daisy might have returned the love then, but five years can change anything.
With all of this sunshine, there has to be a storm.
Although he was great at attracting women, Gatsby was not the best at keeping them. He often made it seem as if he was the only man in the world. After five years, when Gatsby and Daisy met again, he found out that Daisy moved on with someone else--Tom. Along with the unexpected reunion came some tension. Gatsby and Tom had gotten into an argument over Daisy which led to Gatsby telling Daisy to “just tell him the truth--that you never loved him--and it's all wiped out forever” (Fitzgerald 139). She stumbled over her words and tried to make Gatsby realize that it was okay that she used to love Tom by saying, “I love you now--isn't that enough? I can't help what's past.” (Fitzgerald 140). He was controlling, bitter, and maybe even a little insecure. All of those traits led to him ruining any possible relationship he had with a
woman. Gatsby obviously had some personality problems that could not be solved with cash or social class. He was a man who wanted everything to himself, whether it was a girl or a business. He was very selfish and greedy and that's what stopped him from reaching the real American dream, contentment. He was never comfortable with what he had because he always wanted more. There was never a time in The Great Gatsby where Jay Gatsby was satisfied with the woman he had, the business he had, the money he had, or the fame he was given. He was “borne back ceaselessly into the past”(Fitzgerald 189) because he never appreciated his present.
had mutual feelings. Later in their love affair, Gatsby had realized that he loved her. After all, “she was the first ‘nice’ girl he had ever known” (Fitzgerald 155). Daisy might have returned the love then, but five years can change anything.
With all of this sunshine, there has to be a storm.
Although he was great at attracting women, Gatsby was not the best at keeping them. He often made it seem as if he was the only man in the world. After five years, when Gatsby and Daisy met again, he found out that Daisy moved on with someone else--Tom. Along with the unexpected reunion came some tension. Gatsby and Tom had gotten into an argument over Daisy which led to Gatsby telling Daisy to “just tell him the truth--that you never loved him--and it's all wiped out forever” (Fitzgerald 139). She stumbled over her words and tried to make Gatsby realize that it was okay that she used to love Tom by saying, “I love you now--isn't that enough? I can't help what's past.” (Fitzgerald 140). He was controlling, bitter, and maybe even a little insecure. All of those traits led to him ruining any possible relationship he had with a
woman. Gatsby obviously had some personality problems that could not be solved with cash or social class. He was a man who wanted everything to himself, whether it was a girl or a business. He was very selfish and greedy and that's what stopped him from reaching the real American dream, contentment. He was never comfortable with what he had because he always wanted more. There was never a time in The Great Gatsby where Jay Gatsby was satisfied with the woman he had, the business he had, the money he had, or the fame he was given. He was “borne back ceaselessly into the past”(Fitzgerald 189) because he never appreciated his present.