What Prevented Gatsby From Achieving The American Dream?

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," the protagonist Jay Gatsby embodies the American Dream of wealth, love, and success. However, despite his relentless pursuit of these ideals, he ultimately fails to achieve them.
One reason for Gatsby's failure is his illegal means of acquiring wealth. Gatsby becomes rich through bootlegging and other illegal activities during Prohibition, which undermines the moral and ethical foundations of the American Dream. This not only alienates him from high society but also makes it impossible for him to fully achieve his aspirations.
Additionally, Gatsby's love for Daisy Buchanan is ultimately unrequited. Despite his extensive efforts to win her back, Daisy remains committed to her husband, Tom, and refuses to leave him for Gatsby. This disappointment in love symbolizes the larger failure of the American Dream to fulfill its promises of happiness and success.
Finally, Gatsby's past and the societal norms of the time prevent him from fully assimilating into the upper-class society he desires to be a part of. As a self-made man, he lacks the prestige and social connections that come with being born into wealth and privilege, and he is ultimately rejected by the people he admires.
In conclusion, Gatsby's illegal means of acquiring wealth, unrequited love, and inability to fully assimilate into high society all contribute to his failure to achieve the American Dream. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the limitations of the American Dream and the corrupting influence of wealth and power.