The Demoralization of the American Dream

The American Dream during the time of our forefathers was for one to be free, equal, and entirely self-made. During the “roaring twenties,” however, an economic boom triggered a frenzy of capitalism that adulterated this dream into being wholly based on materialism and social merit. Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the author lives the corruption of this dream through Tom and Daisy (the inheritors of success), Gatsby (the achiever of success), and Myrtle (the seeker of success). These individuals are observed by Nick Caraway, the unbiased narrator and sole human being unconcerned with living a life of extravagance. Despite first appearance, all individuals in pursuit of wealth and merit are demoralized either mentally, physically, or both.

Tom Buchanan, powerfully built and of a prestigious family, is an “East Egger.” The East Egg is known as residence to the traditional money, and because Tom lives there, it is obvious that he is experiencing the American Dream to its fullest. He is biased, hypocritical, and dead to the world. Tom converses about the book The Rise of

Myrtle Wilson, the wife of a mechanic, lives in the valley of ashes between Long Island and New York. She, out of all the characters, is most captivated by the American Dream and most eager to wield its power. In having a relationship with Tom, she is able to appear as a considerable member of society. She can spend money unnecessarily and even include her sister along. Consequently, Myrtle becomes dependent on a lifestyle of social prominence. Her frequent outings make it obvious of her disloyalty. When Mr. Wilson makes plans to move west, she disagrees and starts a large dispute. Myrtle exclaims to her husband: “Beat Me! Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward (144)!” From this passage it is obvious that Myrtle is sick and tired of her somber life in the valley of ashes. She has experienced too much opulence to keep living like the masses. Finally, she makes an attempt to flee from her underachieving husband into the affluent arms of Tom, but is killed in the process. As always with the contemporary American Dream, social merit and materialism blind the aspirator of basic moral behavior.

It is now evident how three distinct characters, all at different stages of the American Dream, are demoralized by it in one way or another. Although The Great Gatsby pointed out social disorder in America eighty years ago, the same problems still persist today. Capitalism has escalated and even a higher percent of Americans are realizing the dream of wealth and merit. Because of this, moral corruption involved with the American dream is universal and timeless. It will not stop until materialism is tamed. At the end of the novel, in attempt to flee from this corruption, Nick moves out west in order to cleanse himself of the impurities associated with the east coast. In doing so, he is actually following the American Dream more closely than abandoning it. The irony is that in the west, there is more opportunity, and where there is more opportunity, those aspiring for the corrupted American

Some topics in this essay:
American Dream, Coloured Empires, Consequently Myrtle, Daisy Nick’s, Egg” Island, Jay Gatsby, Nick Caraway, Tom Daisy, american dream, Nick Gatsby’s, East Egg, social merit, jay gatsby, wealth merit, tom able, tom daisy, attempt flee, own social, valley ashes,