... and standards are set in order to achieve their dreams. Some may have higher expectations than others, but no matter how high they, each and every person must take a step at a time in order to accomplish their dream. "The Great Gatsby", a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald uses point of view, and symbolism ... to represent the American Dream and the downfall of those who attempt to reach such illusory goals. In this case, Jay Gatsby, the central figure of the story, is one character who longs for the ... past. In order to achieve his goal, he must reach into the past and relive an old dream, ...

• Word Count: 1266
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... its stead. Placing too much significance on dreams causes a person to misguidedly equate his identity with his desire to attain those dreams. Common themes in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, James Thurber's short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story Winter Dreams establish that infatuation with dreams causes conflict, confusion, and loss of identity. In Fitzgerald's The ... the monotony of his life with nonchalance and chronically fantasizes about alternate realities, such as being a surgeon, pilot, or sailor, which results in the co...

• Word Count: 1294
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School