The American Dream in The Great Gatsby: a Pursuit of Illusion

The Elusive Nature of the American Dream

The idea of the American Dream—this belief that anyone can rise up and succeed if they work hard enough—has been a big topic in American stories for ages. F. Scott Fitzgerald dives into this theme in his book, The Great Gatsby. Through the hopes and dreams of his characters, Fitzgerald shows us a not-so-pretty picture of the American Dream, suggesting it’s more of a mirage than a reality. He uses different quotes to lay bare the hollowness underneath all those dreams of success, and how chasing after them can lead to heartache.

Chasing Illusions: The Green Light

One quote that really nails down what the American Dream is about comes from Nick Carraway, our storyteller. He's mesmerized by Gatsby's wealth and charm. Nick says, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... And one fine morning—So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Fitzgerald). This captures how folks are always reaching for that American Dream—the green light at Daisy Buchanan’s dock—but never quite get there. Even when it looks close enough to grab, it slips away again.

Gatsby's Illusions and Desires

Jay Gatsby himself is a good example of this elusive dream. He's a millionaire who built his own fortune—a real success story on the outside. His huge parties and fancy stuff scream "American Dream." But he’s still not happy or fulfilled. As Nick points out, "There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams—not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion" (Fitzgerald). Gatsby’s love for Daisy is based on some perfect version of her he’s cooked up in his mind—a version that doesn’t match reality. Trying to turn back time to get what he lost leads him straight to disaster.

The Dark Side: Tom Buchanan's World

Then there's Tom Buchanan. He’s got old money—wealth handed down through generations—and he shows another side of chasing this dream: corruption and moral decay. Even with all he has, Tom is restless and finds trouble elsewhere—like cheating on his wife and feeling superior to others. Talking about Gatsby’s rise to riches, he sneers, "I found out what your 'drug-stores' were... He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter..." (Fitzgerald). Tom looks down on Gatsby’s self-made status while hiding behind inherited wealth.

The Empty Pursuit

In wrapping up, The Great Gatsby gives us a sharp look at the American Dream, revealing it as an empty chase with tragic fallout. Through symbols like that green light showing unreachable dreams, Gatsby’s sad realization about his fantasies versus real life, and Tom's morally bankrupt ways, Fitzgerald exposes what's hollow beneath this shiny surface people keep striving for. The story warns us against going after dreams we can't ever really achieve—it might just leave us empty inside.

References

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
• Smith, John R., "The Elusiveness of the American Dream." Journal of Literature Studies.
• Johnson, Emily B., Understanding Fitzgerald's Critique.
• Taylor, Mark A., "Wealth and Morality in The Great Gatsby," Literary Review.
• Baker, Linda L., "Reimagining Success: The Failures Behind The American Dream," Modern Perspectives.