The Great Gatsby Chapter VI

The American Dream Many people relate the novel The Great Gatsby with the American Dream. But as a class let’s explore this idea of the American dream a little bit more.

The American Dream

The American Dream The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. [1] The idea of the American Dream is rooted in theUnited States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certainUnited Statessocial mobilityJames Truslow Adamssocial class [1]United States Declaration of Independenceall men are created equal

The American Dream The American Dream is one of success, home ownership, college education for one’s children, and have a secure job to provide these and other goals. - Leonard Boswell (Democratic Senator from Iowa) The American Dream is really money. The American Dream, the idea of the happy ending, is an avoidance of responsibility and commitment.--- Jill Robinson (U.S. Novelist).

The American Dream So what is our consensus of what the American Dream is? Is it a reality and attainable, how do we achieve it?

Chp. VI pg How can Gatsby be a representation of the American Dream? Why does he change his name? What does he want/desire as a young man? How does he attain his desire, is it noble?

Chp. VI pg. 99 Gatsby quits his job as a janitor while paying to attend a college university. Wouldn’t a college university positively affect his social standing? So why would he quit? Does this say anything about Gatsby? So has Gatsby attained the American Dream?

Chp. VI pg Why is the interaction between The Sloanes, Tom, and Gatsby significant, what’s going on here? Let’s get meaning out of it. What do Tom and the Sloanes represent (social class)? What does Gatsby represent (social class)? Why do Tom and the Sloanes act so appalled? Why does Gatsby accept the invitation?

Chp. VI pg How does Daisy view the people at Gatsby’s party? Is she having any fun? How does Tom view Gatsby’s party? What does this say about her view of West Egg, the view of her social class?

Chp. VI pg There’s a huge flashback that begins here, let’s begin with the weirdness? What’s going on in the passage? What is this incarnation? What is this incomparable milk of wonder? What is Gatsby’s dream?

Chp. VI Exit slip: has Gatsby accomplished the American Dream? Extension ideas: Is it detrimental to be too dedicated to one’s dreams, to be obsessed with ones dreams? Has it been harmful at all to Gatsby? Does the self-made man fit into 1920s American Society? Think of Dan Cody and Gatsby. What are there lives like are they missing something?

Chp. VII frontload Draw a picture of the car scene, whose driving in what car and where they are seated in their respective car. Note the weather in this chapter as well, what function does it have in terms of the mood of the chapter? Note what Daisy’s voice is filled with? Why is this significant in understanding Daisy?