Futility of the American Dream Exposed in The Great...

The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, its possible to achieve the American dream. -- Tommy Hilfiger In F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel The Great Gatsby, the principle character, Jay Gatsby makes an exhaustive effort in his quest for the American Dream. The novel is Fitzgeralds vessel of commentary and criticism of the American Dream. â€Å"Fitzgerald defines this Dream, he depicts its’ beauty and irresistible lure†(Bewley 113). Through Gatsbys downfall, Fitzgerald expresses the futility and agony of the pursuit of the dream. The aspects of the American Dream are evident throughout Fitzgeralds narrative. Take, for example, James Gatzs heavenly, almost unbelievable rise†¦show more content†¦Consequently, I am not ugly, for the effect of my ugliness, its power to repel, is annulled by money... does not my money, therefore, transform all my incapacities into their opposites? (Possnock 204). Gatsbys incapacities, generally of an emotional nature, inhibitions preventing his successful capture of his long-lost love, Daisy, are washed away with the drunkenness provided by the dollar: However glorious might be his future as Jay Gatsby, he was a present a penniless young man without a past, and at any moment the invisible cloak of his uniform might slip from his shoulders... He took what he could get, ravenously and unscrupulously - eventually he took Daisy one still October night (Fitzgerald 141). Once armed with the lucre, however, he is prepared to contribute equally to the relationship, making it truly an equal relation of love. Love represents the other side of the coin of wealth: as opposed to material wealth, it refers instead to emotional wealth. Whatever its plane of existence, love plays a pivotal role in the American Dream, in Gatsbys Dream. Perhaps love is the most valuable of the aspects presented thus far of the Dream; He hadnt once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes (Fitzgerald 88). Such is hisShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream as Shown Through Jay Gatsby Essay2729 Words   |  11 Pages Jay Gatsby becomes so enthralled in his American Dream and the immoral means that he would use to obtain it, however, that he could not see foreboding events around him. He acts in a manner of obliviousness when many of the people whom he associates with mock him, such as when and an unnamed woman in Gatsby’s house in Chapter VI gives an insincere invitation for Gatsby to come to dinner a nd, after Gatsby naively accepts the invitation, Tom ridicules him by asking Nick, â€Å"Doesn’t he know she doesn’tRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald3918 Words   |  16 PagesPeriod 5 The Great Gatsby - RRS Title: The Great Gatsby Publication Date: April 10, 1925 Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald Nationality: American Author’s Birth/Death Dates: September 25, 1896 – December 21, 1940 Distinguishing Traits of Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and was named after his ancestor Francis Scott Key, who is the author of â€Å"The Star-Spangled Banner.† He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of