The Great Gatsby: A Study of the American Dream and Its Corruption

The Great Gatsby: A Study of the American Dream and Its Corruption

Abstract

In this paper, I will analyze F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in relation to the theme of the American Dream and how it is corrupted in the novel. I will examine the main characters, specifically Jay Gatsby, and the way their actions and motivations are shaped by their pursuit of the American Dream. Furthermore, I will examine the setting of the novel, New York City in the 1920s, and how it reflects the corruption of the American Dream. Ultimately, I will argue that The Great Gatsby serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly pursuing the American Dream without considering the moral and ethical implications.

Introduction

The main argument in the analysis of “The Great Gatsby” is that the American Dream, as represented by the character of Gatsby, is corrupted by the excess and superficiality of the wealthy class in the novel. The research question is what Fitzgerald is trying to say about the American Dream through the characters and setting of the novel. The novel explores themes of wealth, love, social class, and the decline of the American dream. The characters in the novel are complex and flawed, with Gatsby being the protagonist and Daisy being the love interest (BAKRI, 2019). The narrator of the story is Nick Carraway, a young man who rents a house next to Gatsby’s and becomes a close friend and confidant of his.

Fitzgerald uses vivid imagery and symbolism throughout the novel to convey the decadence and excess of the Roaring Twenties. The green light that Gatsby sees across the water from his mansion symbolizes his longing for Daisy and his futile pursuit of the American dream. The Valley of Ashes, a desolate area between West Egg and New York City, symbolizes the moral decay of society and the corruption of the American dream (BAKRI, 2019). “The Great Gatsby” is considered a classic of American literature and is widely studied in high schools and colleges. It is often praised for its commentary on the excesses of the 1920s and its exploration of the human condition.

Literature Review

This part analyses the corrupting influence of wealth and the American Dream. The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is often considered a commentary on the failure of the American Dream (Rafik, p.11). The novel takes place during the Roaring Twenties, a time of great economic prosperity in the United States, but also a time of great social upheaval. The main character, Jay Gatsby, is a wealthy man who has achieved his wealth through illegal means, but he is also a romantic figure who embodies the American Dream of self-made success through hard work and determination. However, Gatsby’s pursuit of the American Dream ultimately leads to his downfall, as his desire for wealth and status is not fulfilled, and he loses the love of his life.

Matthew J. Bruccoli’s “Some Sort of Epic Grandeur: The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald” provides insight into Fitzgerald’s own experiences and the personal influences that shaped the novel (Widiantari et al. l, 2021). Bruccoli argues that Fitzgerald’s own failed pursuit of wealth and love, as well as his experiences living in the East during the 1920s, informed the themes of the novel.

The second section discusses the illusion of the past. Gatsby is fixated on his past relationship with Daisy and spends much of the novel trying to recreate the past. However, the novel ultimately suggests that one cannot go back to the past and that the past is inevitably different from how we remember it. The illusion of the past is a recurring theme in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (Leiwakabess, p. 79). The novel is set in the 1920s and explores the lives of wealthy individuals living in the fictional town of West Egg on Long Island. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, is a mysterious figure who is deeply in love with a woman named Daisy, who is from his past. Ronald Berman’s “The Great Gatsby and the Limits of Dream” examines the novel through the lens of the American Dream.

Berman argues that Gatsby’s pursuit of the American Dream ultimately leads to his downfall, as his desire for wealth and love is not fulfilled (Anja, 2019). Throughout the novel, Gatsby is consumed by his longing for the past and his desire to relive it. He throws extravagant parties in an attempt to win Daisy back, but ultimately, his pursuit of the past proves to be futile. Gatsby’s illusion of the past ultimately leads to his downfall, as he is unable to let go of his past and move on with his life (Rafik, p.11). Additionally, the theme of the illusion of the past is present in all the characters, like Daisy, Nick, Tom, Jordan and other minor characters, who are all struggling to come to terms with their past and present.