Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is the epitome of the classic American Dream; the dream that you can rise out of the ashes of poverty and low social class to one day become part of the American Elite. Fitzgerald’s titular character Jay Gatsby is the quintessential literary proof of this …show more content…
Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy is purely historical and superficial. Gatsby has been trying to relive a month-long relationship from five years prior. Gatsby believes that the present day Daisy is the exact same woman he fell in love with five years before; Gatsby even notices this change in her when he says to Nick, “And she doesn’t understand … she used to be able to understand”(109). Daisy however has moved on from her old relationship from Gatsby. While Tom is a less than ideal husband who carries on in extra-marital affairs, they have a comfortable relationship. Tom does not idealize Daisy in the way that Gatsby does. The lack of sincere relationships between characters is highlighted after Gatsby’s death. Nick desperately tries to put together a funeral service for his deceased friend, however all the people who seemed to be close to Gatsby are nowhere to be found and those that are found want nothing to do with Gatsby any longer. Wolfsheim is one of these characters who informs Nick, “When a man gets killed I never like to get mixed up in it in any way. I keep out. When I was a young man it was different - if a friend of mine died, no matter how, I stuck with them to the end. You may think that’s sentimental, but I mean it - to the bitter end” (171). Many people in today’s society lament the lack of sincere relationships, blaming …show more content…
Gatsby believes that obtaining wealth will bring Daisy back to him, to live out their lives together. Gatsby, long before he meet Daisy, aspired to remove himself from his poverty stricken life which is evidenced in the conversation between Nick and Mr. Gatz, where Mr. Gatz comments, “Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what he’s got about improving his mind? He was always great for that” (173). Fitzgerald doesn’t make it clear in the novel if Gatsby would be satisfied with mediocre wealth if he had not met Daisy, but based upon his characterization it could be believed that Gatsby would have made enough to be comfortable and to be able to buy a house for his parents as he had within the story. This concept ties into the overall theme of the American Dream, however it slightly delineates since the American Dream is overall pulling oneself from poverty and societal status focuses more upon an excess of wealth. Gatsby with all of his earned wealth desires to recapture the past with Daisy; Daisy, who was born into her wealth, is looking for adoration. Today, scores of high school graduates move on to the collegiate level to obtain a baccalaureate degree to be qualified enough for high paying jobs. Instead of enjoying what we have, we ceaselessly reach out for