F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is often seen as a critical examination of the American Dream.
Set in the Roaring Twenties, the novel explores the idea that the American Dream, originally about the pursuit of happiness and self-made success, has become corrupted by materialism and a loss of moral values. Here’s a critical analysis of how Fitzgerald addresses the concept of the American Dream in the novel:
1. The Corruption of the American Dream
Fitzgerald presents the American Dream as deeply corrupted by the pursuit of wealth and status, rather than the pursuit of happiness and personal fulfillment. The characters in the novel embody various aspects of this corruption.
- Example: Jay Gatsby himself is a prime example of the corrupted American Dream. Born James Gatz, he transforms himself into the wealthy and enigmatic Gatsby through dubious means, including organized crime. His wealth and opulent lifestyle are all in the service of winning back Daisy Buchanan, which shows how the dream has been twisted into a mere pursuit of material gain and social status.
2. The Illusion of the American Dream
The novel suggests that the American Dream is an illusion, an unattainable ideal that leads to disillusionment and moral decay.
- Example: Gatsby’s grand parties, luxurious mansion, and lavish lifestyle create an illusion of success and happiness, but they mask the emptiness of his existence and his longing for a past that can never be reclaimed. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes this unattainable dream, always just out of reach.
3. The Decline of Morality
Fitzgerald uses his characters to show the decline of morality that accompanies the pursuit of the American Dream.
- Example: Tom and Daisy Buchanan represent the moral decay of the upper class. They are wealthy, but their lives are devoid of genuine purpose or virtue. Tom is openly unfaithful to Daisy, and Daisy’s carelessness ultimately leads to tragedy. Their wealth insulates them from the consequences of their actions, highlighting the moral bankruptcy of those who achieve the American Dream through unethical means.
4. Social Class and the American Dream
The novel explores the rigid social hierarchies that contradict the notion of the American Dream as an equal opportunity for success.
- Example: Despite Gatsby’s immense wealth, he is never fully accepted by the old-money elite. His new money status keeps him on the periphery of high society, indicating that the American Dream is not just about wealth, but also about social class, which remains rigid and exclusive.
5. The Futility of the American Dream
Fitzgerald portrays the American Dream as ultimately futile, a pursuit that ends in disillusionment and despair.
- Example: Gatsby’s dream is centered on his love for Daisy, but this dream is doomed from the start. Daisy, who is already married to Tom, is a symbol of the unattainable. Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of her leads to his downfall and death, underscoring the futility and destructiveness of his version of the American Dream.
6. The American Dream and Consumerism
Fitzgerald critiques the consumerism and materialism that have come to define the American Dream in the 1920s.
- Example: The novel is set during the Jazz Age, a time of unprecedented wealth and consumerism. The characters’ lives revolve around extravagant parties, fast cars, and luxurious homes. This emphasis on material wealth is portrayed as empty and ultimately unfulfilling, as seen in the hollow lives of the Buchanans and the tragic end of Gatsby.
7. Symbolism and the American Dream
Fitzgerald uses various symbols to critique the American Dream and its perversion.
- Example: The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s dream of a future with Daisy, which is always just out of reach. The Valley of Ashes represents the moral and social decay that results from the relentless pursuit of wealth, serving as a stark contrast to the glittering world of East Egg and West Egg.
Conclusion
In “The Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald presents a critical examination of the American Dream, portraying it as a corrupted, unattainable, and ultimately destructive ideal. Through the experiences and fates of his characters, Fitzgerald exposes the moral decay, social stratification, and materialism that undermine the dream’s original promise. The novel serves as a powerful critique of the American Dream, challenging readers to reflect on the true meaning of success and fulfillment in a rapidly changing society.