The American Dream: The Great Gatsby Lynn and Fatima

The American Dream: The American Dream is the idea that regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity, life should allow everyone the same chances and can be seen as complete equals, giving everyone the ability to achieve their highest goals. “... a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.” -James Truslow Adams Epic America

The American Dream in the 18th century: When they began to strive for equality, they faced a few moments where they were initially sidetracked considering most of the ideas were initiated by white men of the higher social classes, it seemed only fair that they would be the first to distribute equality between one another. This idea began in the 1920s, which brings up the point that the Great Gatsby was basically meant to be a representation of what had been going on at the time; with all the men and women associating themselves solely with people of high rankings, and attending lavish parties at Gatsby's in order to secure their place as a socialite. It was a steady process that is still being developed today, with representatives like president Wilson supporting women's voting rights in 1918, President Johnson passing laws allowing for different races, sex, and religions being in the same schooling systems in 1964, and President Obama creating more accessible health care and legalizing LGBT marriage.

The American Dream in The Great Gatsby: Throughout the Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there are a variety of allusions to the American Dream and its significance in the United States in the 1920s. The protagonist Gatsby himself is obviously the best candidate for writing about the American Dream – he comes from humble roots (he’s the son of poor farmers from North Dakota) and rises to be notoriously wealthy, only for everything to slip away from him in the end. The Great Gatsby could be considered a pessimistic critique of the American Dream, as depicted in Gatsby’s life and wealth, and how it eventually turned out to be. In the traditional American Dream, people achieve their goals through honest hard work, but on the other hand Gatsby very quickly acquires a large amount of money through crime and inheritance (resembles a rags to riches tale). Fitzgerald also tries to demonstrate that regardless of how much those trying to pursue the American Dream have, they can never be satisfied, because its nature entails us to strive for things beyond what we already have. Gatsby embodies this in the decadent wealth that he is always accumulating, and also in his pursuit of Daisy.

Symbolism in the Great Gatsby: Green Light: Another significant symbol, that F. Scott Fitzergald purposely chooses to include in this book, is the green light. “But I didn't call to him for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone--he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” The green light can be interpreted as part of The Great Gatsby’s meditation on The American Dream – the idea that people are always attempting to reach towards things greater than themselves, thus being out of reach. As Gatsby glares at the green light, he hopes and dreams of a life with Daisy. Valley of Ashes: Symbol of the moral and social decay of America

Bibliography http://blog.prepscholar.com/the-great-gatsby-american-dream https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-the-american-dream-quotes-and-history- 3306009