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Post by Emily Werkheiser on Jan 31, 2016 19:13:17 GMT
In “The Great Gatsby”, Fitzgerald comments upon the American Dream, noting how it has become something unattainable as it is overshadowed by corruption and lack of morals. Fitzgerald comments upon the social stratification of the time period and the divide between the different sections of the upper class, which ultimately makes Gatsby’s dream to make Daisy his wife unattainable. Daisy lives in the East Egg, among those from old and established money, while Gatsby comes from the West Egg, which is inhabited by newly-rich. Despite Daisy’s promise to wait for Gatsby when he left for war, she decided to marry Tom because of his well-established social position and her parents’ approval of him and his money. No matter how much Gatsby and Daisy love each other, Daisy’s true loyalty will always lie with those of her kind and their money (as demonstrated when she chooses Tom over Gatsby in the scene in the New York hotel at the end of the novel). This unbreakable division in society conveys the unattainability and decay of the American Dream in the 1920s, as put forth in the novel. Additionally, despite their separation, both areas (East and West Eggs) demonstrate the moral emptiness that permeated the wealthy East coast in the 1920s, which also contributes to the unattainability of the American Dream in a society that is unworthy and underserving of such happiness and success. As Nick observes, those residing in the East and West Eggs are selfish and careless people who lack regard for the fortunes of those around them. Eventually, Nick even makes the decision to detach himself from this realm of beings and move back to the virtuous Midwest, in order to spare his life from being too influenced by this society’s petty acts. With the lonely Gatsby’s distasteful display of wealth in his parties filled with fake friends, and everyone’s (including Daisy’s) complete lack of regard for Gatsby’s death, one can determine that how the characters live in a world in which people only care about the image that appears on one’s surface, when the life beneath is insignificant and worthless. And in the end, because of the corrupted and meaningless life that Gatsby led, his dream to win over and live happily with Daisy fails, seeing as though he did not leave a significant enough of an impact on her to compel her to even send some flowers when he died. Furthermore, through his writing, Fitzgerald tries to convey the people of the 1920’s lack of moral and decent center, making them undeserving of true happiness and therefore unable to attain the American Dream.
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Post by margaretpalko on Jan 31, 2016 20:32:10 GMT
I think most people are looking at the novel as a symbol for the impossibility of the American Dream, but I think throughout the novel their are contradictions. Fitzgerald sets his novel during a time of prohibition, yet alcohol flows. Plus, Nick claims that he will reserve all judgment, but he judges everyone throughout the novel. I can't tell whether Fitzgerald tried to do this to also show us that America/American Dream is so contradictory. But back to what you have you been talking about, you definitely brought up many great points and touched on a lot of the symbols throughout the book. Fitzgerald used a lot of colors to represent different parts of the American Dream as well as created skillfully placed geographic locations to show separations throughout the novel.
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Post by joshualiu on Feb 2, 2016 22:39:27 GMT
Emily, your ideas on how Fitzgerald shows the impossibility of achieving the American Dream are very insightful. Nick states that Gatsby's dreams are incorruptible, but he still fails to achieve them. His failure isn't a result of his dream's unattainability, but are due to the corrupt nature of the American Dream. Although neither are achieved, Gatsby's incorruptible dream is completely different from the corrupted American Dream. Fitzgerald shows how the decay of the American Dream prevents Gatsby from obtaining his dream (Daisy chooses Tom, symbolizing the American Dream, over Gatsby, symbolizing the dream of any ordinary person). The American Dream is rotting and isn't as appealing as it once was; instead of bringing hope and success, it destroys the former and prevents the latter. Clearly, Fitzgerald is commenting on the negative effects that the American Dream is beginning to display, as it crushes even the simplest of desires.
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amyyu
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Post by amyyu on Feb 3, 2016 3:12:55 GMT
Emily, I think you presented some very important key points that definitely showed how the people in the '20's were unable to attain the American Dream due to their lack of morals. I also very much agree with what Josh said about the consequences of the American Dream crushing the dreams of ordinary people, like Gatsby. In the novel, characters such as Gatsby and Nick were unable to fulfill the American Dream primarily due to corruption caused either by others or themselves. I think Nick was a prime example of someone who was unable to attain the American Dream due to corruption of others. To start off, Nick's path to happiness was hindered by people such as Jordan, who lied her way through life, as well as Daisy and Tom, both of whom were cheaters. Even though he wasn't corrupted himself, Nick was heavily influenced by people who he came into close contact with-- eventually causing him to feel the corruption himself. Likewise, one of Nick's great flaws resulted in his failure to fulfill the American Dream-- hypocrisy. Ultimately, if Nick had stayed true to his description of himself (someone who always keeps an open mind), then the corruption that he was surrounded by wouldn't have affected his ability to attain happiness and the life that he wanted. This just goes to show the extreme corruption that was present in that time-- a period when people blamed others for indirectly preventing them from achieving happiness.
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Post by elizaneights on Feb 5, 2016 5:38:53 GMT
I agree with Emily. I think Fitzgerald was trying to say that even though someone may have technically achieved the American Dream, they still do not have everything. Daisy and Tom had wealth but a lack of morals and Gatsby had worked to get wealthy, but still was not socially accepted into rich society, the East Egg, because he was still new money. Gatsby also did not have love, which was Daisy, but because of the class differences that still existed, despite the same level of wealth, their love was unattainable. I think that Fitzgerald may have also been saying that the traditional American Dream was what American society wanted people to achieve, but may not be what makes individual people the most happy. Daisy did not seem very happy with her life because it lacked the emotion that she would have had with Gatsby. The American Dream can be seen as only an illusion of success. It seems like a good goal to work towards, but once it is achieved, there is still more to work for, like Gatsby trying to get Daisy, and monetary success does not mean happiness.
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Post by sydniemarkowitz on Feb 7, 2016 22:31:07 GMT
I think this book proves to everyone that people have extremely different views of what is truly the American Dream. Gatsby thinks it's having his love and being able to provide for her, Daisy thinks it's having money, and Tom just doesn't even realize there is other ways of life. While Nick says he doesn't put his opinion in the book, it is obvious he does. He looks up to Gatsby because of his success, but doesn't like the way he got there.
I think a big question in this book is, what is Nicks view on the American Dream?
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Post by anewman98 on Feb 7, 2016 23:59:59 GMT
I think a big question in this book is, what is Nicks view on the American Dream? It is ironic that even though Nick is our first person narrator, his view of the American Dream is the least clear. At the beginning of the book, Nick is young and ambitious and strongly believes in the American Dream. This is shown through his time devoted to studying and decision to go into bonds. Although he would rather be a writer, he chooses a career path he thinks will be more lucrative. It is also important to recognize that he lives on West Egg - home of new money. This is ironic because Nick is anything but wealthy. It just goes to show his strong belief in the American Dream and success. However, as our story progresses, Nick’s view of the American Dream becomes corrupted. He gets an inside view of the scandalous lives the “successful” live. Complete with affairs, lies, and illegal activity, the American Dream begins to lose its appeal. He realizes the view at the top of the social ladder isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but he has climbed too high to come down. As Emily mentioned, he moves away from the East to escape the corrupted Dream. All in all, the American Dream from Nick’s point of view is unattainable because it simply doesn’t exist. (Maybe it could be called the American Nightmare) |
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Post by owenleber on Feb 8, 2016 7:08:11 GMT
Once again, on a different post, I agree with Alli. I like how you describe Nick's view of the American dream as becoming corrupted, because there is no real other way to put it. At first he has the American dream that many others have and that is to be a hard worker (at his bonds sales job) and eventually work your way up to success. However, after he meets Gatsby his viewpoint on the American dream changes to one of having a lavish lifestyle and extravagant items. But maybe this is just Fitzgerald showing the audience how the American dream may not only be different for different people, but it also can change from one thing to another for one person.
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