He is extremely wealthy (apex)
He made a fortune of his own
Gatsby achieved the American dream through hard work and ambition. He was able to rise from a poor background to become a wealthy and successful individual. However, he also experienced the emptiness and shallowness of this dream, as his wealth and success could not bring him the love and happiness he desired.
1.high social status
2.wealth
3.love/loyalty
4.success/ popularity
5.life with Daisy
He gained it illegally.
In "The Great Gatsby," the American Dream is portrayed as the idea of achieving success, wealth, and social status through hard work and determination. However, Fitzgerald also critiques the emptiness and moral decay that can come with the pursuit of material wealth and the shallow desires of the characters in the novel. Ultimately, the novel questions the true value and attainability of the American Dream in the 1920s.
Nick is highlighting the contrast between Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and success through potentially corrupt means, such as bootlegging and illegal activities, while also acknowledging Gatsby's unwavering commitment to his dream of winning back Daisy's love and achieving the American Dream. This balance underscores the complexity of Gatsby's character, as he is both flawed and idealistic in his pursuit of happiness.
They are highly destructive with their wealth.
The modern American Dream often emphasizes individual success, economic prosperity, and personal fulfillment, similar to the pursuit of wealth and social stature in "Great Gatsby." However, my personal vision of the American Dream also includes values like empathy, diversity, and work-life balance, which may differ from the Puritans' emphasis on piety and moral righteousness. While I appreciate elements of ambition and achievement in these dreams, I find importance in social responsibility and holistic well-being.
"The Great Gatsby" portrays the destructive power of the American Dream through the characters' relentless pursuit of wealth, social status, and happiness. Gatsby's obsessive desire to win back Daisy ultimately leads to his downfall, highlighting the emptiness and corruption at the core of the American Dream. The novel explores how this pursuit can lead to moral decay, broken relationships, and a sense of disillusionment.
They didn't. The idea of an American Dream is modern. All they wanted was a place where they could live the way they wanted.
Nick and Gatsby are both outsiders in East Egg society, despite Gatsby's wealth and glamour. They both strive for something more meaningful than the superficial values of the elite. This paradox arises because while Gatsby embodies the pursuit of the American Dream, he is ultimately corrupted by it, whereas Nick remains a moral compass, observing the decadence and excess around him.
An example of a conflict in The Great Gatsby is that Gatsby has devoted his life to amass a vast fortune in order to win the affections of the upper-class Daisy Buchanan, but his mysterious past stands are in the way of Daisy's approval or acceptance of Jay Gatsby.
The main theme of The Great Gatsby is predominantly one of the pursuit of the American dream. Many of the characters including Myrle, the Buchanans, Gatsby, and Jordan each seem to be overwhelmed with attaining wealth and power. The Great Gatsby has many themes including love, money, social class, the American Dream, Violence, Honesty, etc. Reading the book a second or third time will clear up any mystery of the themes Fitzgerald included in his timeless novel. My favorite theme from the book is social class. The theme shows the social classes are divided in America much the same way as they were in Britain in the 1920's. Gatsby is trying to break into the elite upper class to win back a former love interest, Daisy Buchanan.
The Declaration of Independence expresses the American dream. It talks about freedom, and the ability of a man, or a country, to make his own way in the world. That is the basis of the quintessential American Dream.
Nick's attitude towards Gatsby was ambivalent because while he admired Gatsby's determination and dream, he also disapproved of the way he attained wealth and pursued Daisy. Nick saw Gatsby as exceptionally hopeful yet tragically flawed. Despite this conflict, Nick felt a sense of loyalty and empathy towards Gatsby, leading to his ambivalence.