Corrupted American Dream in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott...

After World War I ended, America appeared to be a promise land of opportunities for people who are willing to work for it. However, for some, it corrupted them as they set to reach the American dream by acquiring wealth for the only purpose to pursue pleasure. The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald showing that no one is unaffected by the corruption. This novel is seen through the eyes of Nick Carraway, who moves from the mid-west to west-egg to chase his American dream. He observes the people and events around him as he follows the attempts of his neighbor Jay Gatsby, to gain back Daisy Buchanan’s love. Through the novel, characters appear to enjoy the freedom of the 1920s, but it comes to an end as characters are†¦show more content†¦Tom Buchanan, the rich upper class man is seem to mock and manipulate George with his power as he holds back his cars for sale. ‘When are you going to sell me that car?’ ‘Next week; I’ve got my man working on it now.’ ‘Works pretty slow, don’t he?’ ‘No, he doesn’t,’ said Tom coldly. ‘And if you feel that way about it, maybe I’d better sell it somewhere else after all.’ ‘I don’t mean that,’ explained Wilson quickly. (25) Through this scene, we see that George will try to do anything in his ability to have the car. As Tom has the material wealth that George does not have, it gives Tom the power to control him. While George is constantly working hard and relying on the wealthy people, Tom for one to use this power and dictates him throughout the novel. Fitzgerald is illustrating the inequality between classes and the authority that the rich has over the lower classes. He shows that not all hardworking men and women that are wanting to gain respect and climb high on the ladder to reach the American dream will be able to do so. People are being endlessly controlled by the upper class thus giving them no chance to have class mobility. Thus this becomes the reason leading George Wilson to have a miserable life and resulting to killing himself. Another person that was a victim to the corruption of the American dream is Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle’s way of thinking is the complete opposite of her husbandâ⠂¬â„¢s idea and the way to approach the illusion of theShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1621 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s were a time in American history that profoundly depicted social inequality, immorality, superficiality, and unrest. During this time period, the iconic story of F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, was written and published. In this revolutionary novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald revisits his fascinating childhood in a more fictitious manner. The Great Gatsby describes and details the life of a young man from Minnesota, known as Nick Carraway, who moves to New York after World War 1 during theRead MoreEssay about Corruption of the American Dream1127 Words   |  5 PagesCorruption of the American Dream The Great Gatsby is a novel based off of the American dream, which is something that everyone strives for. The author of the book F. Scott Fitzgerald has his own American dream to become a well known writer, and to have the girl of his dreams, and throughout the novel this dream reflected in The Great Gatsby within in the characters Gatsby and Daisy. Fitzgerald had developed the character Gatsby by incorporating some of his own dreams. For example Gatsby has a forbiddenRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1672 Words   |  7 PagesMcCauley CP English III 3 April 2017 Dreams of the Corrupted When corruption is thought of one could often think of a fat, greedy old man taking the wealth of citizens. However, that is not the only form of corruption. Many forms of corrupt individuals are prevalent throughout the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Corruption is shown through the characters as they pursue their version of the American Dream. However, the pursuit of the American Dream does not entail happiness, for theRead MoreEssay about Great Gatsby862 Words   |  4 Pages F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby / Gatsbys Desire for Daisy exploring why Gatsby had such an obsessive desire for Daisy. The writer purports that Gatsby began by pursuing an ideal, not the real woman. In fact, he could not recognize the type of person she had become since they last saw each other. Gatsby lives in a dream world and Daisy is part of that dream. As the novel progresses, however, Gatsbys feelings change. Bibliography lists Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby : The RoleRead MoreThe American Dream s Deterioration1568 Words   |  7 PagesBlock 4 The American Dream’s Deterioration The American dream, an ideal that motivates and entices many. A beautiful yet extremely flawed concept according to Fitzgerald. The idea is that every citizen has an equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work. However, we will see in The Great Gatsby that no one is truly equal, and as one rises another falls. â€Å"We speak of equality and unlimited possibilities, but in reality both are illusions† (Hearne, 191). The American dream offers hopeRead MoreThemes of The Great Gatsby Essay1040 Words   |  5 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a story that has many different themes. Fitzgerald shows the themes that he uses through his character’s desires and actions. This novel has themes in it that we deal with in our everyday life. It has themes that deal with our personal lives and themes that deal with what’s right and what’s wrong. There are also themes that have to do with materialistic items that we deal desire on a daily basis. Fitzgerald focuses on the themes of corrupted love, immoralityRead MoreThe American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis906 Words   |  4 PagesTorres Mrs. Heffelman English 11 September 26, 2017 The American Dream can mean a lot of different things depending on who is asked. Some will answer that it is the freedom of religion or the ability to move between class. Others define it as the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. For Jay Gatsby and many others, the American Dream is about gaining wealth and material possessions in the attemptRead MoreThe American Dream : F. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1362 Words   |  6 PagesGatsby Corrupted Dream The American Dream is originally thought to be about how hard work can lead one person from poorness to richness with the right amount of effort put in. The American Dream can have different meaning to different people but at the end they are all trying to achieve a goal. The American Dream usually requires hard work and dedication. But cheating your way to success can change a person. An example of a distorted American Dream would be F. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great GatsbyRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby968 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 11 Honors Nov 3, 2015 Great Gatsby Paper A life of luxury requires an arduous journey of dedication to achieve it. To embody the American Dream, one must strive to succeed. However, some may go too far in the process, and make irreversible decisions. This dream of copious amounts of wealth causes multiple characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s well-known novel The Great Gatsby to perish from selfishness. Based in the roaring twenties, also known as the jazz age, Fitzgerald sheds light on a majorRead MoreDreaming the Dream in The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men1194 Words   |  5 Pages The American Dream has long been thought the pinnacle idea of American society. The idea that anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or financial status, could rise from the depths and become anything they wanted to be with no more than hard work and determination has attracted people from all around the world. Two writers from America’s past, however, have a different opinion on the once-great American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck have given the public their beliefs on the