American Dream or Selfish Need?

Posted on May 21, 2019 by 20singha

In today’s generation, kids forget what the American dream once stood for. In the long journey of mankind in the United States of America, every living being had their own way of living, and one can say, own American dream. After reading the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, readers find themselves in the midst of wonder: What is the American dream? And as one may summarize it: American Dream is being the best you could be. It’s about finding peace, happiness, and highest possible aspiration for an individual. But as time went by, people changed their motivation from being with their loved ones to being selfish and successful alone and one can argue that the reason for Gatsby’s downfall was his misinterpretation of what he thought was American dream. Even though Nick and Gatsby both were running towards success and happiness, Gatsby found himself in a puddle of loneliness while reaching his goal and ended up giving all of himself to the person he thought was his everything.

Since the beginning of time, the American Dream stood for what one may say: happiness. As time went by, the dream changed into different things acting accordingly to ones selfish needs. Jay Gatsby is a perfect example of the newer version of the American Dream as Gatsby puts everything he ever had from the beginning till the very last end to achieve the goal he dreamed about; the goal was certainly neither success, nor better life, but Daisy. In a party Gatsby asks Jordan to initiate a favor from Nick towards him, “He wants to know,’ Jordan continued, ‘if you’ll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over’” (Fitzgerald 78). Gatsby gave all of his adult life in finding his lost love Daisy and for that he threw tremendous amounts of parties just so Daisy would come once; Gatsby bought the house so Daisy could just be across the bay; Gatsby certainly gave all of himself just to get the thing that he once had; Gatsby misinterpreted the notion of achieving ones greatest aspiration with the desire of getting everything you ever wanted.

Jay Gatsby made his focal point of life to become the richest person alive and coming from a poor family background, no one would deny Gatz’s intentions. Starting off with a mindset of being better in future, Gatsby showed the determination and will that the American Dream initiates in every individual. After his tragic death, Gatsby’s father recalls Gatsby’s teenage years and describes Gatsby’s personality, “Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what he’s got about improving his mind? He was always great for that” (Fitzgerald 172). The initial motive for Gatsby is often seen in today’s world, especially within the working community. For the youth, working hard is what gets you success and indeed a better life than the ones they live in now. But unlike everyone else, Gatsby’s motive shifted from being better to getting everything he lacked in his life, especially love. When Gatsby pushes Daisy to confess her real truth, Daisy says, “Oh, you want too much!’ She cried to Gatsby. ‘I love you now– isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.’ She began to sob helplessly. ‘I did love him once– but i loved you too’”(Fitzgerald 132). Gatsby who wanted more than what he deserved ended up getting nothing. Even when he had Daisy he wanted all of her. Moreover, Gatsby in the end not just wanted Daisy but the reputation of being the best; better than Tom and everyone Daisy ever was with. This mindset of him diverted him from his goal and dreams and effectively got him into having nothing.

Gatsby was a lonely character who didn’t know what he truly wanted from his life. His want for love was acceptable as the American Dream itself talks about happiness and love. But because Nick saw what the greed for something can make a person do, he found himself in the comfort and joy with his family and friends. Nick even though, started off to become successful realized, it’s not being successful what the American Dream talks about, but being happy. In the end of the novel, Nick realises what life truly means and says: “That’s my Middle West– not the wheat or the prairies or the lost Swede towns, but the thrilling returning trains of my youth, and the street lamps and sleigh bells in my frosty dark and the shadow of holly wreaths thrown by lighted windows on the snow…. A little complacent from growing up in the Carraway house in a city where dwellings are still called through decades by a family’s name” (Fitzgerald 176). Nick’s summer revolved around Gatsby and after Gatsby’s death Nick realised that East was never his and West was where he belonged. After everything that happened with Gatsby, Nick striked the sense of how lonely Gatsby was and how his efforts to achieving the green light, which in the novel was Daisy was the only goal for Gatsby. Even during his funeral, he had no one showed up but just Nick, Gatsby’s father and a couple of servants. But even after Gatsby was long gone, Gatsby’s experiences knocked some sense into Nick about how important family was and success is not the only thing that matters. What actually matters is your family, friends, and love they give and that is the true definition for the American Dream.

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135 Responses to American Dream or Selfish Need?

  1. 20singha says:
    May 21, 2019 at 11:39 am

    Hi This is a narrative piece I wrote for the class where we could pick any topic related to The Great Gatsby and discuss our point of view about it. I am proud of this piece because I personally do not know a lot about the American Dream and its ideology. I could’ve done a better job if I did some more research about the dream and connect it to the novel.

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