Assignment 106
April 16,2025
Assignment 106: The 'Great' Gatsby: Exploring the American Dream and Its Disillusionment
This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 106 -,
The 'Great' Gatsby: Exploring the American Dream and Its Disillusionment
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The 'Great' Gatsby: Exploring the American Dream and Its Disillusionment
Paper code:- 22399
- Introduction
- The Evolution of the American Dream
- Gatsby: Embodiment and Victim of the Dream
- Illusion vs. Reality: Disillusionment and Symbols
- The Role of Other Characters and the Broader Social Critique
- Love, Class, and the Corruption of Pure Emotion
- The Final Collapse: Death and the Dream’s End
- Conclusion
- References
1. The Evolution of the American Dream
The American Dream, as defined by historian James Truslow Adams, was "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." This definition aligns with foundational American ideals—freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. However, as Fitzgerald illustrates, by the 1920s this dream had shifted dramatically due to the rapid rise of capitalism and consumer culture.
Zamira Hodo notes that the American Dream had become materialistic by the time Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. The pursuit of wealth and social standing had replaced the emphasis on hard work and moral integrity. The Jazz Age, a period of economic prosperity and social upheaval, brought with it a culture of excess, where values were measured by one's possessions rather than one’s principles. Fitzgerald critiques this transformation through his depiction of Gatsby and his lavish parties, luxurious mansion, and high-profile guests, all of which serve to mask an internal emptiness and emotional void.
2. Gatsby: Embodiment and Victim of the Dream
Jay Gatsby is often viewed as the embodiment of the American Dream. He rises from humble beginnings to acquire immense wealth and status. However, his methods—bootlegging and illegal dealings—reflect the moral decay underlying his success. Muhammad Saleh Habib et al. highlight that Gatsby’s transformation was driven by his desire to win Daisy Buchanan, the woman he loves and who symbolizes the life and status he craves.
Gatsby’s version of the American Dream is deeply personal. It is not simply about wealth, but about reclaiming an idealized past and attaining social legitimacy. Despite his success, he is never truly accepted by the old-money elite. His mansion in West Egg, home to the nouveau riche, contrasts with the aristocratic East Egg where Daisy and Tom reside. This geographical divide underscores the social barriers that wealth alone cannot overcome. Gatsby's lavish lifestyle is a facade meant to impress Daisy and gain entry into her world, but it ultimately exposes his insecurities and the futility of his dream.
3. Illusion vs. Reality: Disillusionment and Symbols
Fitzgerald weaves powerful symbols throughout the novel to highlight the disillusionment with the American Dream. The most iconic is the green light at the end of Daisy's dock, which represents Gatsby’s hopes and the dream he can never attain. Hodo describes this light as a symbol of unattainable goals, forever receding despite one's efforts.
Gatsby’s mansion and extravagant parties represent the showiness of wealth, yet they fail to bring him the acceptance and love he seeks. As Habib et al. note, Gatsby’s guests enjoy his hospitality but gossip about him behind his back, indicating that his success is neither respected nor trusted. His car, a flashy yellow vehicle, becomes another symbol—not of mobility or progress, but of destruction. It is the instrument of Myrtle Wilson’s death and indirectly leads to Gatsby’s own demise, underscoring the danger of placing too much faith in material symbols.
4. The Role of Other Characters and the Broader Social Critique
Fitzgerald's critique of the American Dream extends beyond Gatsby to other characters who similarly pursue materialistic goals. Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan’s mistress, is emblematic of the lower class aspiring to rise through wealth. She views Tom as her ticket to a better life, but her ambition ends in tragedy. George Wilson, her husband, is crushed by his inability to succeed within the corrupt capitalist framework and is driven to madness and murder.
Tom and Daisy Buchanan represent the old money class—entitled, careless, and morally bankrupt. They retreat into their wealth whenever consequences arise. Tom’s disdain for Gatsby is rooted in class superiority. Habib et al. point out how Tom’s racism and elitism serve as obstacles to Gatsby’s acceptance. Despite Gatsby’s riches, he remains an outsider.
Even Gatsby’s father, Henry Gatz, is awed by his son’s wealth, momentarily forgetting his grief. This reaction encapsulates how deeply materialism had infiltrated personal and familial values. The American Dream, once a symbol of aspiration and self-worth, has become a source of division and disillusionment.
5. Love, Class, and the Corruption of Pure Emotion
Gatsby’s love for Daisy is the emotional core of the novel, but it is tainted by the very materialism that surrounds it. He is unable to separate Daisy’s identity from the wealth and status she represents. Fitzgerald makes it clear that Gatsby’s vision of Daisy is idealized—he sees her not as she is, but as a symbol of perfection. Habib et al. point out that when Daisy is reunited with Gatsby, her emotions are stirred not by his love, but by his shirts—an emblem of his material success.
Their love ultimately cannot withstand the realities of social class and moral compromise. Daisy, though briefly moved by Gatsby’s passion, chooses the comfort and security of her privileged life with Tom. When Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy never loved him, Daisy cannot deny her past feelings for Tom, revealing the complexity and contradictions in her emotions.
6. The Final Collapse: Death and the Dream’s End
Gatsby’s death is the ultimate symbol of the American Dream’s failure. He dies alone, waiting for a call from Daisy that never comes. His funeral is scarcely attended, a stark contrast to the crowded parties he once hosted. Fitzgerald uses this imagery to show that Gatsby's dream, though grand in scope, was built on illusion and false hope.
Zamira Hodo argues that Gatsby’s downfall illustrates how the dream, once a source of motivation and hope, leads to personal destruction when corrupted by materialism and social inequality. Gatsby's unwavering belief in his dream blinds him to reality, making him a tragic figure whose life and death critique the hollowness of the American success story.
Conclusion
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald offers a timeless critique of the American Dream, revealing how it can inspire greatness but also cause ruin. The novel challenges the reader to reflect on the cost of success when it is measured solely by wealth and status. Gatsby’s life, filled with aspiration, illusion, and ultimately disillusionment, represents the dream’s transformation into a myth. Through richly drawn characters, powerful symbols, and sharp social commentary, Fitzgerald warns that a dream rooted in materialism and social ambition cannot sustain itself. The American Dream, as portrayed in The Great Gatsby, is not a path to fulfillment, but a journey toward inevitable disappointment and loss.
References
Smiljanić, Siniša. “The American Dream in The Great Gatsby.” Academia.Edu, Apr. 2011, www.academia.edu/3071602/The_American_dream_in_The_Great_Gatsby. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
