Ben Crane Mrs. Kenney English 312 04/14/24 The American Dream In the painting, “Christian’s World” by Andrew Weyth and in the book The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, both pieces represent similar feelings and ideals. and as a class this year we have spent time deciding what attributes make up what we consider the American dream. Some of the attributes and ideals that have been discussed in class this year include hope, determination, and success. Jay Gatsby, who is the protagonist in The Great Gatsby and The Young Lady, who is one of the main subjects in the painting “Christina's World” portrays many of the ideals associated with the American dream. The young lady and Jay Gatsby are hoping and determined to get something in life that can’t be obtained.…show more content… The young lady accepts that she is different. On the other hand, Jay Gatsby impersonates a rich beneficiary, trying to impress the girl of his dreams. Jay Gatsby, the protagonist in The Great Gatsby and the young Lady from “Christina’s World” stand with the unwavering belief that success and happiness can be attained by perseverance and optimism despite their flaws and shortcomings. Jay Gatsby and the young lady are both striving for better things in life, creating false realities and denying the inevitable truth that their dreams will not come into existence. Jay Gatsby, whose name was legally James Gatsby “James Gatz,” that was really, or at least legally, his name. He had changed it at the age of seventeen and at the specific moment that witnessed the beginning of his career” (Fitzgerald 98). James Gatz claims that he inherited his money from all of his rich relatives who passed away. He also claims to be a Yale graduate. He went to school at St. Olaf but left after a week because he was ashamed that he worked as a janitor to afford college. He decided to create a false identity that he based his life
