Examples Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Words: 755
Pages: 4

Tricia Myers
Ms. Maggert
Honors English III
11 April 2017
The American Dream or the American Nightmare In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Aamerican {some capitalization errors. make sure that you proofread before turning it in. i will not fix them in your entire paper but i do notice them. } dream is dissected and thrown away. The morals of old america are destroyed by the upper class, including both new money and old money. The dream comes with the idea that if one works hard enough, one they can succeed at whatever they please. However, this ideal gets twisted as people become wealthy through illegal ways resulting in empty success. This pursuit of happiness is simply a failure as it ends in change for the worse. Although as a culture Americans like to fit certain ideals, morals have shifted, resulting in a broken american dream.
…show more content…
It is inferred throughout the book that his business is illegal. This is finally confirmed toward the end of the book when a man who calls himself Slagle calls intending to reach Gatsby about Young Parke. He says “they picked him up when he handed the bonds over the counter,” (Fitzgerald 128-129). Going through illegal ways to make money causes a change in moral. Once being included in the rich way of life, he hosts tremendous parties. Gatsby never drinks at these parties but the same cannot be said for his guests; they get extremely intoxicated which even result in car accidents. These people do not care about the well being of others; they only care about what’s happening right then. Acts like these increase selfishness and decrease overall