How Does Gatsby Represent The American Dream in "The Great Gatsby"

Introduction

F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the American Dream in the character of Jay Gatsby in his masterpiece, The Great Gatsby. So how exactly does Gatsby represent the American Dream? Gatsby succeeds in changing his lifestyle as he goes from having nothing to being very wealthy. His success, however, comes through corruption. Exactly how Gatsby made his fortune is not entirely clear; however, it is evident that he is or was once involved in some illegal business.

The American Dream Defined

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of the American Dream is "a way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by any person in America, particularly by working hard and becoming successful." Through Gatsby's life, Fitzgerald critiques the idea that America is a meritocracy where anybody can rise to the top through hard work. Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is achievable, but by including the illegal aspect of Gatsby's success, he also problematizes the American Dream. Gatsby's success is based on the fact that he did not follow the rules of society. "In stressing the corruption at the heart of Gatsby’s dream, as well as exposing, in the revelation of Daisy's character, the tawdriness of what the dream aspires to, Fitzgerald intended a critical criticism of the ‘American Dream’" (Fitzgerald, 1925, p. 76).

Gatsby's Path to Wealth

As Gatsby turns to illegal business to achieve his American Dream, it is evident that not everyone has equal opportunities to succeed, as demonstrated by Fitzgerald. Gatsby is truly a fitting character for examining the American Dream. Though he is the son of a poor farmer, he rises to be notoriously wealthy. Many people also include Daisy in their analysis as the physical representation of Gatsby's dream. However, the American Dream is achieved through people's aspirations via honest hard work. In Gatsby's case, he quickly acquires a large amount of money through crime. Gatsby attempts to do the hard work by approaching Dan Cody, but that does not work out. Instead, he turns to crime, and only then does he manage to achieve his desired wealth.

Social Class and Wealth

Gatsby has a romantic view of wealth and is unaware of the realities of American society, where wealth is not the sole factor in social class. There is a bond stronger than money between people like Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Even though Gatsby has amassed a great fortune, he does not belong to the same social class as Tom and Daisy. Tom and Daisy's contempt for people like Gatsby, who are wealthy but come from a different socioeconomic background, is evidenced by Daisy's choice of West Egg, where Gatsby lives (Fitzgerald, 1925, p. 102).

This contempt, as well as the bond between Tom and Daisy Buchanan, can be explained by Weber's theory of social stratification, which emphasizes the influence of similar upbringing and education. This is further evidence that no matter how hard Gatsby tries, he cannot change his past, nor can he change other people's pasts. The difficulty he faces comes when he is confronted with a society filled with decadence and expectations from the upper class. Since status is more than social class, based on factors from the past, such as upbringing, it is also more challenging to change.

The Complexity of Gatsby's Dream

While Gatsby's story resembles an ordinary rags-to-riches tale, the fact that he gained his wealth immorally complicates the notion that he is a perfect representation of the American Dream. Furthermore, his success does not last; he still craves Daisy and loses everything in his attempt to win her back. In other words, Gatsby’s grand dreams, all precariously tied to Daisy, are as fragile and fleeting as Daisy herself. "He knew that when he kissed this girl and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God" (Fitzgerald, 1925, p. 134).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gatsby's death at the end of the novel is intended to portray the futile nature of the pursuit of the American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald believed, due to his own personal experiences, that the American Dream was a cruel mistress, presenting everyone with opportunity, yet even with success, happiness remained perpetually out of reach.

References

Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). American Dream. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American%20Dream