The emptiness of American dream in The Great Gatsby

 

Representing American dream as a 'sordid boon'

The Great Gatsby is Fitzgerald’s exceptional piece of writing, which highlights the time period and the circumstances of America after the First World War. Fitzgerald depicted the lifestyle of the 1920s in the novel. The Great Gatsby sets in the United States and the protagonist Gatsby chases the “American Dream”. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby as a vehicle to explore the idea of the American Dream, which was a key element in shaping a modern American society and its citizens. The “dream” remains an illusion for the middle class while the people with old money, like Tom Buchanan, remain superficial and miserable. American Dream means that if you work hard, you can achieve more prosperity and it will take you to your goals. 

 

The Americans of that time period were so passionate about attaining their desires that they became wildly ardent about achieving a particular class or a lavish lifestyle. This age became complete with all those people, who had so many things to show off. It was all about money, jazz and alcohol. It was a moment in time of joyful feelings and of course the never ending prosperity that we can call the ‘American Dream’.

Although many people believed that hard work and determination are the ways through which a person can be as wealthy as he wanted. Showing off was one of the main parts of their lives. The wealthy people use to attend and throw parties almost every day.

 

The American Dream had become important for people as an effect of the First World War. The First World War destroyed many things. It affected the economy, the political situation, the psychology of people and also the personal life of each and every family. It was a big loss; loss of the mental condition of every individual. When the war ended, it left an entire generation in a state of misery and suffering. They were not psychologically and mentally fit anymore, because through the war people had to face so many difficulties, harshness, brutality in their lives that they forgot the real meaning of happiness. We can understand that after the World War, all these people or the whole group of this generation went through a lifetime of survival and adjustment. They did not find their life as beautiful as before. Every time that they tried to adjust to the situation, they were faced with a change and a loss of values.

 

The changes greatly affected the economy. After the war, it happens remarkably that some poor people became rich like Gatsby and the rich became poor. The rich people lose their income generating ventures, the industries close down, and everything is destroyed completely. The rich people may sometimes turn paupers overnight and find themselves on the street. This is the right time for corrupt people to take advantage of the opportunities. After the world war, the situation took a turn that many people who were under the upper class and never imagined to socialize with high class people, at that time by choosing a wrong path they have become stronger and reached to a better position. They become more powerful and rich. So we can see how the actual social structure changed and horribly affected people’s psyche.

 

The Great Gatsby is a quintessential modern novel. The treatment of American Dream is the most important aspect of the novel, which is people’s desire to live lavish lifestyle. Fitzgerald has given us a glimpses of high class people of the roaring 20s, where the values are lost and it has transformed in to achieving American Dream; and also materialistic power of high society, who believes in gaining wealth and who have the lack of moral senses. Fitzgerald presents the actual aspects of American Dream along with its modern face to show that what people actually think of this dream and which is now lost forever to the American people. The American Dream that Gatsby chases is represented by a woman (symbolic) he loves the most, but cannot have as the situation has already changed. Daisy is modernistic, because she is not like the other woman of that period. Women were before more like family oriented, they had particular manners that they used to follow very strictly; whereas Daisy is completely the opposite. Moreover, she loses her morality even when she was married. So we can see how she is modernistic, because she thinks that why can only men have multiple relationships.

 Women can have also multiple relationships and that is why she continues her relationship with Gatsby though she was married. Gatsby did know very well that Daisy is married with Tom Buchanan, who is a very rich guy. So it was not possible for him to get Daisy in his life and that is why he chases the American Dream; through following his dream, he becomes a very rich and wealthy man, but not through the best methods. Thus, Gatsby has now everything. He has beautiful house, he has lots of money, he throws party every day, and he has a lavish lifestyle, expensive cloths and all. But, ultimately his life ends tragically or he could not find emotional gratification.