Untitled Essay, Research Paper

Adam Cohen

English Essay #4

“Gatsby’s Dream”

Jay Gatsby, the central character of F. Scott

Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby symbolizes the American dream. The American

dream offers faith in the possibility of a better life. Its attendant illusion

is the belief that material wealth alone can bring that dream to fruition.

Through Gatsby, Fitzgerald brings together both these ideas. Jay Gatsby thinks

money is the answer to anything he encounters. He has the best of everything.

The fanciest car, the largest house, and the finest clothes. Jay has everything

except the object he most desires, Daisy. Gatsby believes he can win Daisy

over with wealth, that he could achieve the ideal she stood for through his

material possessions.

One look at Gatsby’s past and it could be seen that

he was destined to get ahead in life. Mr. Gatz told Nick, “Jimmy was

bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do

you notice what he’s got about improving his mind? He was always great

for that. He told me I et like a hog once and I beat him for it” (182).

Gatsby’s determination to gain a large bankroll is a huge part of the

American dream. He believes that once he achieved his financial goal it would

lead to a better life.

In America the car is one of the greatest status symbols.

Gatsby’s gorgeous machine is one of the most majestic cars created.

Nick’s comments on the vehicle describe its luster, “…and there

in its monstrous length with triumphant hatboxes and supper-boxes and

tool-boxes…Sitting down behind many layers of glass in a sort of leather

conservatory we started towards town” (68). The use of the symbolic

automobile can be seen as a demonstration of how an ideal based on materialism

alone can be destructive. This was the fatal car which kills Myrtle Wilson

and indirectly leads to Gatsby’s death.

Appearance is another important factor toward Gatsby’s

dream. In his quest to win Daisy’s heart Gatsby chooses to wear his

best outfit. “…the front door opened nervously and Gatsby in a white

flannel suit, silver shirt and gold colored tie hurried in” (89). Silver

and gold are the colors of wealth, Gatsby’s sartorial splendor is as

lavish as any of the other items he owns. Gatsby’s shirts are more then

just garments towards Gatsby. They are some of the many fascinating objects

he possesses that were created by money. These shirts contribute towards

Gatsby’s vision of the American dream, that his money and belongings

will create happiness for him.

Another major object of Gatsby’s dream was his incredible

house. Jay states to Nick and Daisy, “My house looks well, doesn’t

it? See how the whole front of it catches the light” (95). Jay gave

Nick and Daisy the grand tour of his house showing of all of his worldly

possessions. Room after room, everything was shown and mentioned. At the

sight of his piles and piles of shirts Daisy broke down. “They’re

such beautiful shirts, it makes me sad because I’ve never seen such–such

beautiful shirts before” (98). Jay Gatsby’s ideals were parallel

to the typical American dream. He wants to claim his objective by the use

of his assets. He thinks that his money will give him happiness in life through

love and his personal belongings.

Even the richest man in the world can’t have everything.

Material wealth could provide many things for Jay Gatsby but not the thing

he most desired. Although his wealth drew Daisy closer to him, he never truly

could have possessed her heart. He demanded Daisy to state that she had never

loved Tom Buchanan. “Oh, you want too much!” she cried to Gatsby,

“I love you now–isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s

past. I did love him once–but I loved you too.” (139-140). Jay’s

true love still remained with her uncaring husband, Tom. Jay Gatsby’s

dream was smashed when he found out that even all of his assets weren’t

enough to woo Daisy to him.

Jay Gatsby’s belief in the American dream keep him

from realizing reality. He believes that if he worked hard enough and made

enough money that he could have anything. He wants to perceive the world

as a place where sufficient wealth would enable him to recapture and recreate

the past he desired with Daisy. Gatsby began planning for his dream when

he was young. This can be seen from his journal he wrote as a young man which

was discovered by Mr. Gatz. His attempt to accomplish his dream with cars

and shirts could not have been successful. The American dream cannot be

accomplished, money is just one factor towards happiness in this world.