Downfall of the American Dream Essay

As a child, sensation is told that life is just a day trance. If superstar believes in his or her dreams and pursues the path to this goal than unrivaled shall achieve it and shall go away a joyful, happy life. However as one grows older and wiser, one learns that the reality is far more complicated and corrupted. One discovers that scorn their persistency and audacious efforts to attain his or her objectives, the the Statesn dream is just an wantness that can non come true and can non be attained. The owing(p) Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzg periodld is set in New York City and Long Island in the early 1920s when America was viewed as the land of opportunity. Nevertheless, this novel explores the downfall of the American Dream and how it has an power on people and the society. This is demonstrated by characters such as myrtle Wilson who corrupts herself, her relationship and her life over an obsession with something that cannot be attained. Daisy Buchman who sacrifices herself a nd her happiness to book her sociable status. Finally, Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the novel exemplifies how the American dream can scarper one to make immoral decisions. Through the use of these characters, F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby explores that no matter ones gender, race or fall unconnected the American dream does not discriminate it is simply elusive and unachievable to all who seek to pursue it.Myrtle Wilson, often described in the novel as Toms mistress, remains a very(prenominal) flat character byout the whole novel meaning that she doesnt develop as a character and her morals do not change throughout the novel however, she plays a huge role in Fitzgeralds novel to outline the flaws in the American dream. Myrtles objective throughout her whole life as it was for many women of this era is to wed a rich successful man who can fritter away care of her. Evidently, her husband, George Wilson, is not suitable for her. She even says he isnt fulfil to lick m y shoe (page way out) This is why Myrtle finds herself another man who qualifies to her standards/ checklist. passim the novel Myrtle literally buries her relationship with George by getting voluminous with Tom Buchman as well she betrays herself and gives away little pieces of herself by prosecute her dream. Tom Buchman breaks her nose in chapter two yet she pursues the relationship because she is so desperate to rise in social material body. A cream is the likes of an off-color of white it is tainted with yellow. Fitzgerald often uses this color to portray ones falseness and inability to fit in with the f number class. In chapter two, Myrtle wears a cream-colored dress and when someone gives her a compliment nearly the dress she says Its just a crazy old thing, I just slip it on sometimes when I dont care what I look like. (page 35). prick remarks that Myrtle repeatedly changes her outfits so when she brushes off this compliment and acts snobbish it get the farms very evident to Nick and the readers that she is desperately trying to make herself appear superior, sophisticated and a part of the upper class. People of the upper class often wear white because it is good corrupted so it can be replaced. White can become creamed colored but cream color clothing cannot become white. This shows how patronage ones endless effort, the American Dream is unattainable. As proven with Myrtle and Toms relationship, Myrtle dream is very materialistic. agree to Michelle Hurley in her The End of the American dream she expresses Fitzgerald documenting the corruption through physicalism of what was once an era of genuine optimism and individualism the original American dream. This is shown through many characters but curiously Myrtle. Her immoral, wrongful and materialistic perception by the American dream literally led her to her own demise. Fitzgerald kills her off in chapter seven when she gets hit by the car she was chasing after. Myrtle represents the peop le from abase class that attempt to defy the social boundaries at any assertable cost. However, her fate unfolds that anyone who endeavors to disobey the American dream will suffer relentless and deadly consequences.Furthermore, Jay Gatsby also known as James Gatz executes multiple wrong actions driven by his desire to achieve wealth and hunch forward. Motivated by Dan Cody and his loathing of the poverty-stricken life, Gatsby seeks a simple way to become apart of the wealthy class. Therefore, Gatsby becomes involved in some illegal business this becomes especially obvious when Nick first meets Meyer Wolfsheim and Gatsby says, Oh, no, this isnt the man page number. Gatsby panics because Meyer Wolfsheim almost discloses confidential information about the business to the wrong person. Although it does not directly state in the novel that Gatsby is involved in the sell business, many clues such as Gatsbys relationships with questionable people like Mayor Wolfsheim as well as Ga tsbys storys about his past that never seems to add up suggest that Gatsby is not completely innocent. This also causes the readers to question how exactly he earned his fortune. In addition, this shows how Gatsbys morals openly oppose the idea of the American dream which states that only those who work hard can achieve it. Daisy Buchman means the human race to Gatsby his genuine American dream was to attain Daisys love. Everything he does in the novel he does for the touch on purpose of getting her back into his life. Daisy and Gatsby had a great love before he went off to represent his rural area in the war In her article The end of the American dream, Michelle Hurley explains that Daisy promised to wait for him but being fickle, materialistic and in demand she get married Tom Buchanan instead.. Not only does this show the carelessness and selfishness of the upper class but it also shows the cruelness of the American dream. Gatsby does everything to woo Daisy over he throws p arties in hope that one day she would attend one and he even gets involved in immoral business all with the sole purpose of getting Daisy to fall in love with him once again.Yet despite all of his efforts, Daisy screws him over and his American dream stabs him right in the back. Finally, for years Gatsby paints an unrealistic picture for himself of Daisy. Nick even tells Gatsby to stop expecting so very much from Daisy because she will crack from the pressure and he will lose her. Nick also repeatedly reminds Gatsby that the past cannot be recreated yet Gatsby continually opposes this idea. As a result of Daisys inability to reach this unreal fancy that Gatsby idealized constantly disappoints Gatsby and causes him to ask for more from her. In the end, he dies hold for her which represents the reality of the unreachable American dream. Gatsbys unrealistic and unachievable intelligence/ perception of the American dream, as well as his kindness and innocence, eventually leads him to disappointment and his own demise.Finally, Daisy Buchman was born and raised on the opposite social spectrum as Gatsby. As Gatsby remarks Daisys voice is full of money page NUMber her main value in life is wealth and social. She has adapted to her wealthy life-style ever since she was little which clouds her understanding and view of the American dream. As said by Jordan Sarah Head, Daisy and Toms common denominator is wealth and an upper-class position. Even after falling in love with Gatsby, Daisy marries Tom not as much because she loves him but because she loves what he represents. She believed that because of his considerable wealth he could care for her and make her happy but as once said by Denzel Washington Money doesnt buy happiness. This is why even though she is truly in love with Jay Gatsby she gives up her happiness for her materialistic values.Furthermore, Daisy Buchman and Gatsby come from the complete opposite sides of the wealth spectrum. Daisy Buchman has the lifestyle that most people believehttp//web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=10&sid=769a7693-0ce6-41e7-bba1-181bb4c496aa%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3dAN=9306106555&db=aqhhttp//web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=26&sid=769a7693-0ce6-41e7-bba1-181bb4c496aa%40sessionmgr4006Daisy Buchanan