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The Great Gatsby



             In the novel, Tom, Daisy and Jordan were chief examples of the corruption of the American Dream. Jordan cheated in her golf, to obtain wealth and popularity, Tom and Daisy became morally irresponsible and were unfaithful to one another, and even Gatsby's business partner, Meyer Wolfsheim, was said to have "fixed the world series". The novel gave a hint that Gatsby may have had something to do with bootlegging, which is the production and sale of illegal alcohol. This was quite a big issue in the 1920's as there was prohibition of alcohol during this time period. This is just another example of the corruption of the American Dream. People thought that with money, anything could be achieved. Gatsby tried to use money and material products to win Daisy, but realized later, when she could not live up to his dream, that this was not possible and that money could not buy happiness. The Valley Of Ashes symbolized the corrupt, wealthy people of the 1920's and the eyes of T.J.Eckleburg represented a "god-like" figure who looked down on the corrupted society. I think that the glasses on T.J.Eckleburg were there to show Gatsby's distorted vision of reality, and how people like the Buchanan's couldn't see past material things.
             Gatsby's countless extravagant parties created an illusionary atmosphere much like the lifestyles of the guests. Many had not even been invited and some came and went without ever meeting Gatsby. The peoples" behaviour was an illustration of their careless and indulgent lives; for example, Nick writes " they conducted themselves according to the rules of behaviour associated with an amusement park" (pg 43). Also Jordan's careless driving and the fact that Tom and Daisy moved away after Myrtle's death shows their lack of responsibility for their actions. The aimlessness of characters such as Tom, Daisy and Jordan can be seen through the dialogue, for example, "What"ll we do with ourselves this afternoon?" cried Daisy, "and the day after that and the next thirty years?" (pg 113).


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