Symbolism Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald back in 1925 but even now it’s one of the most studied books. The great Gastby states a variety of themes such as wealth and segregation of category, in addition to the American dream becoming unreachable. The great Gasby who has managed to obtain an unremarkable success regardless of his estimable background, nevertheless he is still rejected by those who were born with the old wealth. This shows that the American dream is for can be achieved with high sociality, and no matter how hard you try it's almost impossible to change people's minds and stereotypes.
Gatsby spends most of his regarded novel in trying to demonstrate that his attainment of wealth shows his improved social status. Gatsby gives a major attention on how he could reveal to people who were born with money and didn't have to put much effort in it that his wealth gives his high social status. The Great Gatsby was a normal solder during World War 2, he had never thought of becoming rich nevertheless he managed to do the impossible with hard work and determination. Although the obtained wealth, people who were born with the old money don’t value his and that shows how one can’t obtain high status/ The American Dream.
When Gatsby is killed in an accident, in trying to shield Daisy and attempting to achieve high status, not many people showed up to his death. Only three people attend his funeral. It further comments on Gatsby’s failure to achieve American Dream. This way, while he collected much money and was able to allow unimaginable luxury, he remained unrecognized and unappreciated. No one even noticed his absence and only several people expressed their desire to say goodbye to him. Therefore, despite all his attempts, Great Gatsby failed in achieving the American Dream or becoming actually equal with people he hoped to belong. It implies that if a person is not born into wealth from the beginning, they will not be able to climb the ladder of social respect regardless of how hard they try. They will never be free from their less than stellar past and consequently, they will not find a place in a circle of old money crowd.
The Great Gatsby is an outstanding novel that acts as a symbolism of how American Dream is an idealized, unachievable concept. Gatsby has overcome numerous hardships when accumulating wealth and entering high society, hoping he would impress and earn love from Daisy. However, in the end, Daisy chose to stay with her husband, who is an old money representative. After Gatsby’s death, only several people visited his funeral. Thus, despite his temporary success, Great Gatsby failed in accepting and remained a low social class member he was born into. Through this, the novel provides American Dream criticisms, also concludes that such romanticized notion cannot be fulfilled in a real life.
