Motivation In The Great Gatsby

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American Dream “No person can maximize the American Dream on minimum wage” (Jealous). This quote is accurate; however this saying is an unsatisfactory excuse that could be effortlessly fixed. Simply by either going to college to earn a degree that could open up larger salary careers or stop being lazy and apply for a different higher paying job. Older generations effortlessly met their own American Dream because not only did they have it easier , but also they made no excuses. Therefore, the “American Dream” is presently a modification of what it once was, as evidenced in the Great Gatsby, older generations were focused more on the past, the millennial generation is lazy and money is the true driving motivation factor. The Great Gatsby takes places in the early 1920s in the state of New York. Throughout the story …show more content…
Back then, having enough money with a regular size house and two cars in garage was what people desired. Now the “American Dream” people desire multimillion dollar houses with dozens of luxury cars and a yacht. Today, most people despise their careers, but love the paycheck they receive every month. This goes to show that money is the absolute motivating factor for people today; however, back in older generations the driving factor was happiness as seen in the Great Gatsby. Gatsby was wealthy as could be, but he focused on the past because he was happier then. Today, the “American Dream” is a combination of happiness and money because having the money makes people happy. “The first sip of the soda is delicious, but after the 39th sip is gets old” (Dunn). To rephase that, spending money excessively does not make people happy, having the money and being able to live life without worries creates happiness. As for me, I believe money motivates me to reach my goals. I absolutely hate my job, but my paycheck every other week is unbelieve. Making money is my

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…

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Trials And Tribulations In The Great Gatsby

they are shown to be through their actions. One such as example is found in The Great Gatsby by the narrator Nick Carraway. Even though Gatsby was involved in criminal activities, failed to win back Daisy, and was murdered for something someone else did, Nick can claim that Gatsby “turned out all right” for a variety of reasons. Nick is certain of this based upon Gatsby’s extreme capacity for hope and his pure motivation for actions despite how wrong they appear. While going through the trials and…

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Theme Of Reality In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby by Scott F. Fitzgerald, one of the main themes is “illusion versus reality.” Fitzgerald dramatizes this conflict through the actions, motivations, and personalities of his characters, one of them being the book’s namesake: Jay Gatsby. Gatsby portrays himself as a young, wealthy, and educated man, but that portrayal hides who he truly is. Daisy Buchanan is another character who hides behind illusions because they have the privilege of wealth. However, Nick Carraway, the novel’s…

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The Literary Canon

compelling and disconcerting as the motivations, actions and beliefs are mirrored by people in society. The similarity between characters in canonical literature and the real world provide students with insight in dealing with various people throughout their lives. For example, frustrating characters such as Tom Buchanan build tolerance in the reader in dealing with similar people. Due to the complexity of characters in canonical texts the actions and motivations of the protagonist and antagonist are…

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Great Gatsby Rhetorical Analysis

The Great Gatsby was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s way of communicating to us what his deliberation of the American dream was; he implied that the American dream was illusory and nonexistent, however the American dream is undeniably present. One of the first major examples of the American dream is Benjamin Franklin; he went from “rags to riches” [1]. After Benjamin Franklin set the trendy goal in the financial field, it all went uphill, everyone was trying to get rich. Fitzgerald’s suggestion that the…

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Nick's Materialism In The Great Gatsby

and wealth, by criticizing them. In the Great Gatsby, money and the possessions of most of the characters affects the relationships, outcomes, and motivations, in a negative way most of the time. This is shown in the extravagance of Gatsby’s parties, when Gatsby throws the shirts, and also in Gatsby’s funeral. Many characters in the Great Gatsby are highly materialistic, their motivations driven by their want for money and items. The director does a great job…

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What Makes The Great Gatsby Great

What makes a character great? Is it his morals, character, achievements, or something else entirely? Is it more important what makes a character great or who makes a character great? The Great Gatsby propounds all of these questions and more, but it all boils down to one uncertainty: is Gatsby truly great? Nick Carraway wonders this and many other things about the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, whom he meets after moving to Long Island to work in bonds. Throughout Fitzgerald’s novel, Nick tries to ascertain…

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Essay about the great gatsby

The title character of The Great Gatsby is a young man, around thirty years old, who rose from an impoverished childhood in rural North Dakota to become fabulously wealthy. However, he achieved this goal by participating in organized crime, including distributing illegal alcohol and trading in stolen securities. From his early youth, Gatsby despised poverty and longed for wealth and sophistication. Though Gatsby has always wanted to be rich, his main motivation in acquiring his fortune was his love…

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Why Is Happiness Important In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Money can buy big houses and fancy cars, but it can’t buy happiness to a relationship. The majority of characters in the book live a pretty wealthy life with plenty of material possessions they need but still aren’t happy people. In The Great Gatsby one theme that plays a major role throughout the book would be the social classes and where their characters stand within the social ladders. Happiness is the goal that can never be achieved because the encounter with wealth and social…

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Identity In The Great Gatsby

Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the story of Jay Gatsby is recounted through the starry-eyed perspective of Nick Carraway. Though Nick claims to be an unbiased narrator, his pompous vocabulary and privileged position suggest otherwise. Nick narrates the story in a different order than what actually happens, causing him, and readers, to focus too much on Gatsby’s love for Daisy. Still, readers catch glimpses of who Gatsby is through moments of his past, which show that Gatsby has always had a fascination…

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