Gatsbys Dream
What is the American Dream? In the Webster's New World Dictionary, dream is defined as: "a fanciful vision of the conscious mind; a fond hope or aspiration; anything lovely, etc." In F. Scott Fitzerald's novel The Great Gatsby, the lead character Jay Gatsby defines the American Dream as: everyone can rise to success no matter what his or her beginnings. In the First chapter of the novel, Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story gives us a glimpse into Gatsby's idealistic dream. "No-Gatsby turned out all right in the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dream…."(6) Gatsby lives in a fantasy world that he has created base on his dream, and his ...
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the middle-west-all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition."(69) Lastly, he spends his money like pouring water. He held expensive parties, owns a huge mansion, a Rolls Royce, two motor boats, aquaplanes, a swimming pool (ironically that he has never used it except the day he has died), and a flashy wardrobe including a pink suit. Gatsby's materialism is not something to praise about. However, all of his amoral actions are caused by one purpose, which is to fulfill his dream. Gatsby has committed crime in order to gain the life style and buy the mansion to impress Daisy. "…he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from [Daisy's] well-loved eyes."(96) Also, Gatsby lies about himself because he wants those lies to be true, and in a way, he even believes those lies are true. Furthermore, his materialism is also one of Gatsby's ...
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Gatsby's father, we learn that Gatsby's devotion in his dream does not start in his adult years, but in his teenage days or even earlier. Before Gatsby's funeral, his father shows Nick a self-improvement schedule of young Gatsby. Including items such as, "practice elocution, poise and how to attain it," "study needed inventions," and "study electricity, etc."(181) The schedule is dated back in September 6, 1906, which is sixteen years before Gatsby died, and he was only fifteen or sixteen then. The schedule tells us how early Gatsby's dream has started; even as a young boy, he is already devoted to it. After all, Gatsby is so devoted in pursuing his dream that his daily life is ...
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"Gatsbys Dream." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 2 Jan. 2004. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Gatsbys-Dream/855>
"Gatsbys Dream." Essayworld.com. January 2, 2004. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Gatsbys-Dream/855.
"Gatsbys Dream." Essayworld.com. January 2, 2004. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Gatsbys-Dream/855.
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