The American Dream in The Great Gatsby
According to JamesTruslowAdams, in his book The Epic of America
described the American Dream as
"that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer
and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to
ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high
wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and
each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which
they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what
they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or
position."The American Dream
http://middlechildcatholicpriest.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/american-dream-001.jpgEvolution
of the American Dream
The idea of the dream started backin 1630 where James Winthrop
gave his city upon a hill sermon to puritans sailing to
Massachusetts. In this speech he detailed a society where everyone
would be able toprosper, as long as they worked together.
In 1776, in the declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson,
asserted that every free man was entitled to life, liberty and
pursuit of happiness.
In the 19thcentury America was now known as a land
ofunparalleledopportunity, where anything can be achieved.This
belief was labelled the charm of anticipated success
This dream was given its nameas we know it today asit
graduallyappeared more and morein newspapers and books in the
mid-to-late 1800s and by the early 20thcentury, it was a euphemism
for upwardeconomicmobility.
In 1931, the American Dream wasthought tobe in great danger, as
the period of the Great Depression began. The self-made men were
being destroyed and many people began to lose their dreamalong with
theirhope
In 1941, Roosevelt gave a speech to Congress where he
articulated the revival of the dream.
In the 1950s America were the most envied society on the planet,
and the upward economic mobility was revived.
Due to racial discrimination in the 1960s, many people believed
that the American Dreamwas no longerattainable for all.Martin
Luther King Jr described America as adream not yetfulfilled.He then
added that the statement byJefferson, which is what the idea is
founded uponshould be made into a reality by giving equalrights to
all minorities
In the 1970s, it seemed that the American Dream may be dead as
many people wereno longer dreaming but worrying about their
mortgages and queuinghours for petrol.
In 1984, the economy revived and there was growingprosperity.
TheAmerican Dreamis stillbeing revived today.
http://im.rediff.com/money/2009/nov/13aseem6.jpgThe American
Dream in The Great Gatsby
As well as the theme of love, The Great Gatsby encompasses a
less romantic and rather depressing theme of the disintegration of
the American Dream.
The 1920s are portrayed as an era of decaying social and moral
values, lead by the empty pursuit of pleasure and reckless delight,
as the rich indulge themselves with regard for nothing but their
own pleasure
Gatsbys weekly parties ultimately resulted in the corruption of
the American Dream as the desire for money and pleasure exceeded
any goals. The values had totally changed, instead oftrying to
achieve happiness and equality in a prosperous society,people just
wanted to get as rich as they couldget whilst only thinking of
themselves.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Rcjo0jxDL5A/TNsIlfK0dyI/AAAAAAAAAD0/d4izSra-DRQ/s1600/boardwalk-empire06.jpgThe
American Dream in The Great Gatsby
There is a clash between old money (well established
aristocracy) and new money (self-made rich)
The plot of the novel reflects the fail of the American Dream,
as Gatsbys dream of loving Daisy is ruined by the difference in
their social statuses, his resorting to crime to make enough money
to impress her, and the excessive materialism that defines her
lifestyle.
Gatsby labels Daisy with an idealized perfection that she
neither deserves nor has, and so his dream is ruined by the
unworthiness of its focus, just as the American dream in the 1920s
is ruined by the unworthiness of its focusmoney and pleasure
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/75/aa/29/75aa29de5c9e7d340e71ec18ab1625a0.jpghttp://i.ytimg.com/vi/qwVFgGd0vt8/maxresdefault.jpghttps://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b2/da/9c/b2da9c69791ec1b52a7e2940e5ec0367.jpghttp://78813809ba6486e732cd-642fac701798512a2848affc62d0ffb0.r60.cf2.rackcdn.com/7F95FA42-BB36-4C7E-A18F-256CBD51079F.jpghttp://money.usnews.com/pubdbimages/image/29569/FE_PR_120426flag425x283.jpgThe
Declaration of Independencestates that
allmenare created equal and that they are endowed with certain
unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and pursuit of
happiness
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