(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Gatsby - American Dream


             "For a transitory enchanted moment, man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent" (189). The essence of this moment, which became known as the American dream, describes America as the home of limitless dreams and boundless opportunity. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald produces two characters, Tom and Gatsby, who lie at the two opposing ends of this vast dream. The differences between Tom and Gatsby display what little is left of the American dream in the society of the 1920's. .
             Jay Gatsby's early stages in life are nothing more than "a penniless young man without a past" (156). His past continuously haunts him throughout his rich, extravagant life and his search for Daisy. By continuously lying to himself and to others about such facts as being "an Oxford man," Gatsby tries to hide behind his money and his wealth. To Gatsby, his past is his only characteristic that sets him apart from the rich, yet it is also the only characteristic which he cannot change with determination, nor with money. To satisfy Daisy's desires for money and status, Gatsby willingly commits to bootlegging so he can quickly rise up to power. Tom Buchanan on the other hand, is "a national figure, one of those men who reach such an acute limited excellence at twenty-one" (10). His past shines through his current accomplishments and status. Fitzgerald deploys these two characters in his story to portray the truth of the American dream. This dream is hardly limited only by the people's "own imaginations and ambitions." In the American society at the time, there was still a clear distinction between the traditionally rich, and the people who became wealthy through the American dream.
             Wealth is not simply a sign of status, it is sign of dignity, of pride, of fame, of character and of love. This is the mindset for Tom and Gatsby and is what drives them to do many of the things that they do. Both Tom and Gatsby view their money as the key to everything they want to achieve in life.


Essays Related to Gatsby - American Dream


Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question