Corruption Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

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The Great Gatsby and The Corrupted American Dream The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920) covers several types of themes. For example a theme in the Great Gatsby is the American Dream. The American Dream is defined as someone, regardless of their race or social class, can achieve a successful life through hard work and determination. However, we see that many characters in the novel do not care about these beliefs. Throughout the book, characters such as Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Meyer Wolfshiem all achieve their own American dream in an unethical way. Jay Gatsby is an example of someone who is wealthy but he reaches his social status through criminal activities. Tom Buchanan reveals that Jay Gatsby becomes …show more content…
F. Scott Fitzgerald introduces Gatsby as someone who represents the corruption of the American. Jay Gatsby born as James Gatz was poor, unlike Tom who was born with wealth. Gatsby's parents were poor farm workers. As a result, he resents them as parents. F. Scott Fitzgerald writes about how when Jay Gatsby is attending college he also is working as a janitor. At this point, Jay Gatsby is a representation of the American Dream, he is hardworking. Gatsby eventually is unhappy as a result he quits his job while also dropping out of college. Gatsby eventually met Dan Cody because he warned him about a storm[explain more] . Cody saw potential in Gatsby. He knew he was a smart individual. After Dan Cody passed away, Cody left a huge amount of money to Jay Gatsby but Gatsby could not take it because Cody’s wife was not letting him have it. Gatsby had a love for a girl named Daisy but he knew that he did not stand a chance because he was poor so he set out and tried to become wealthy. Jay Gatsby’s purpose on becoming wealthy is so that he can get Daisy. Gatsby becomes wealthy but everyone does not know how he became wealthy. Jay Gatsby eventually meets Daisy in which he is close to having her. Tom eventually reveals that Gatsby is a fraud. [add context] “He and Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over …show more content…
The American Dream is having a prosperous and successful life through hard work and determination. Many characters have their own methods on becoming wealthy or wealthier. Every character such as Meyer Wolfshiem, Tom Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, and Myrtle Wilson all represent the negative aspect of the American Dream. Meyer Wolfshiem represents a majority wealthy people in America who have become wealthy through unethical ways. Myrtle Wilson is someone who intends to reach a higher status and becoming more wealthy by trying to get Tom Buchanan to marry her instead of taking the time and effort to create her own wealth. Tom Buchanan who is already born to a rich lifestyle but is not satisfied with that and wants more wealth as well as more power. Jay Gatsby went from rags to riches and achieved a prosperous lifestyle, but he did so unethically by illegally selling alcohol. The American Dream has morals as well as principles but all these characters avoid that principles. Every American have the desire to attain a higher social ranking through any means necessary. However, the end almost never justify the
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