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Nick's Perception Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

Decent Essays

Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, a novel documenting the experiences Nick Carraway has in New York, is ultimately used to voice Fitzgerald’s perception of the American dream. Nick, voicing the message from Fitzgerald, affirms his confidence in the matter that the American Dream will always be unattainable. From the beginning of the novel, Gatsby is illustrated as a mysterious character who constantly changes his backstory in an attempt to appeal to the “old rich.” As Nick and Gatsby became acquainted, Nick abominated Gatsby as he ascertained that Gatsby’s methods to pursue wealth and Daisy were scandalous. In the end, Nick conceived a new perspective on life proceeding Gatsby’s death which is portrayed through his thought that, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. …show more content…

. . . And one fine morning- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald 180). Furthermore, Fitzgerald illustrates that no matter how much effort a person gives, the world will ultimately oppose them. As in Gatsby’s case, he died an unknown figure and nobody dared to attend his funeral to commiserate him. Another instance of Fitzgerald’s opinion regarding the American dream was prevalent through the actions of Myrtle Wilson. Throughout the novel, Myrtle was engrossed in the lavish lifestyle she attained through a surreptitious affair with Tom Buchanan. Myrtle’s personality transformed as she took advantage of Tom’s money by using it to live out her fantasy. Although Myrtle’s American dream occured sparsely, she displayed how materialistic she was by stating, “I married him (George) because I thought he was a gentleman. . . . I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in, and never even told me about it .

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