Daisy's American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Words: 616
Pages: 3
Open Document
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby wants nothing more than a love and a life with his long lost lover, Daisy; she is his American Dream. Gatsby holds onto a semblance of hope that some day he can achieve his dream, and he goes an extreme length to assure it happens. In the end, Gatsby’s untimely death illuminates these extreme lengths he dares to go to achieve his American Dream.
Contrary to telling Nick that he inherited his wealth, Gatsby in fact acquired a large portion of his wealth by selling bootlegged alcohol along with his infamous associate, Meyer Wolfshiem. Tom eventually reveals Gatsby’s lucrative practices, saying, ‘[Gatsby] and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug stores here and in Chicago and …show more content…
And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” In a way, Gatsby begins to copy some of the qualities that Daisy became so fond of in Tom: most obviously, his wealth. Perhaps if he can mimic some of Tom’s most favorable traits, he too can win Daisy’s affection. Gatsby’s willingness to commit the crime of bootlegging alcohol during the prohibition emphasizes his readiness to do just about anything to win Daisy over, for he would face federal punishment if the law caught him. Consequently, this decision was his first step into his own grave, and at this point, his true character begins to …show more content…
Gatsby’s purchase of his mansion was his final step to his complete transformation into the great Gatsby. Symbolically, James Gatz’s death highlights the reality that he is willing to do whatever it takes to win Daisy’s affection, even if it meant entirely abandoning the life he once knew. Jordan makes Gatsby’s intentions clear to us by saying, “It wasn't a coincidence at all…Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.” With Daisy in close proximity, his chances at achieving the American Dream are more realistic than ever. As a result, Gatsby hosts elaborate parties in hopes to allure Daisy to his mansion only to find his efforts for naught when she never turns up. In reality, the parties aren't for the people who attend; they are only for Daisy. Ultimately, these parties highlight Gatsby’s undying determination to fulfill his American Dream despite his subsequent failure. Long before his physical death, Gatsby finds himself emotionally dying while his desperation to acquire his American Dream
Show More

Related Documents: Daisy's American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Why Is The Great Gatsby Great

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is great because of the way he is perceived by the people for living out the the American Dream. Gatsby's mansion, lavish parties and wealth give him a reputation of being great because he is living what people dream of. Gatsby is also great because he is a genuine romantic and will do anything to obtain his lifelong love Daisy, who is occupied by another man, Tom. Gatsby believes that Daisy doesn't truly love Tom and that Daisy truly loves him…

Words 1449 - Pages 6

Jay Gatsby American Dream Failure

said, “The American Dream is the charm of anticipated success.” The “American Dream” Tocqueville refers to is the ideal that Americans are able to achieve social and economic prosperity. In the novel, Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is committed to obtaining wealth and prosperity to earn Daisy’s fruitful love. His rags-to-riches success story embodies the American Dream. The obstacles faced throughout his journey reveal that the American Dream is ceaseless, and Jay Gatsby is always…

Words 1449 - Pages 6

Gatsby American Dream

"The Great Gatsby ", besides being a great literary piece, is a metaphor for a whole society, the American society. "The party was over" (Fitzgerald), which signifies a level of prophetic vision within the American society and its history. An essential part of this American characteristic of the novel, and its historicity, is about the American Dream. At the center of how Gatsby is a metaphor for a whole society, is the relationship between Europe, the The Great Gatsby Man dreams of living the…

Words 494 - Pages 2

Gatsby Essay

English 11 per. 3 09 March 2015 Gatsby’s American Dream In the novel, The Great Gatsby , by F. Scott Fitzgerald, many archetypes, motifs, and symbols are used to portray the moral decay in society, not only in the 1920s, but also today. Characters, weather changes, and a green light are major factors in the story to illustrate the relationship between Gatsby's American Dream and today’s society depiction of their American Dream. The 1920s morals are a lot like 2015’s morals. Even though there may be some decay we…

Words 785 - Pages 4

How Does Fitzgerald Present The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

The American dream is a privilege given to the citizens in this country, which states that regardless of your social standing, any person can achieve their goals with their own ambition. The American dream is a “recurring theme in American society”. However, in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s it presents the American dream as an illusion which can never be achieved no matter how hard they yearn for it; and per recent events in America, Fitzgerald is evidently correct. The illustration of…

Words 1207 - Pages 5

Gatsby Essay

corruption. During this time, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote his now famous book The Great Gatsby in criticism of the immorality of society. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s renowned novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald shows the corruption of society through the character Jay Gatsby. Gatsby portrays many aspects of corruption in society such as its materialistic, corrupted and unrealistic dreams. The first time Nick sees Gatsby, Gatsby reaches out across the bay towards the East Egg where nothing could be distinguished…

Words 388 - Pages 2

Examples Of Central Conflict In The Great Gatsby

fulfill his dream of love with Daisy is much stronger than all the other American Dreams that are superficially focused on money because he faces less corruption from wealth than the rest of the dreamers. Henry Piper identifies the central conflict, in which The Great Gatsby focuses on, "The Central conflict in The Great Gatsby is the conflict between Gatsby's dream, and the sordid reality" (Piper). The conflict that comes up throughout the text is Gatsby making and creation of his dream into real…

Words 987 - Pages 4

Myrtle's Use Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

In the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character Nick Carraway portrays the lavish lifestyle of the 1920’s. The story takes place in Long Island, New York on East and West Egg. The story begins with Nick befriending his neighbor, Jay Gatsby, after being invited to one of his extravagant parties. As the story progresses, Nick learns of Gatsby’s love for his cousin, Daisy. Nick discovers Gatsby’s life dream of being with Daisy. The only problem being, she is married…

Words 990 - Pages 4

Identity In The Great Gatsby

In the eyes of many, the American Dream displays signs of hope, prosperity, and happiness. The achievable, realistic desire to accomplish a goal. This dream would establish a new beginning for those with little faith. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby renewed his life attempting to achieve his American Dream by changing his identity to obtain his elaborate reputation and gain the attention of the beautiful Daisy. In addition, what is the American Dream? A goal that can achieved through the wealth of…

Words 513 - Pages 3

The American Dream Essay

The American Dream “The American Dream” means that in the 1920’s. the economy of the USA was increasing very fast after WW1. Each young person in this situation had their own dreams.Because of this age their lived in, their thoughts were affected by the great economy and they tried to reach their dreams by using money and reaching the high society. It was impossible to use these to get to their dreams. Therefore, their dreams were unattainable. “The Great Gatsby” is a novel about “The American…

Words 556 - Pages 3