The Great Gatsby: A Critique of the American Dream

This research paper examines F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, “The Great Gatsby,” as a critique of the American Dream. Through a close analysis of the characters, plot, and symbolism, this paper explores how Fitzgerald portrays the illusion of the American Dream and its consequences in 1920s America. By delving into the themes of wealth, social class, love, and disillusionment, this study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the novel’s commentary on the pursuit of the American Dream during the Jazz Age.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is a literary masterpiece that offers a scathing critique of the American Dream and its unattainable promises. Published in 1925, the novel presents a vivid portrayal of the Roaring Twenties, a time characterized by excessive wealth, materialism, and social upheaval. This research paper aims to explore how Fitzgerald presents the American Dream as an illusory concept through the lens of the novel’s characters, plot, and symbolism. By examining the themes of wealth, social class, love, and disillusionment, we can gain insights into Fitzgerald’s indictment of the American Dream during the Jazz Age.

I. The Illusion of Wealth and Materialism

A. Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth

B. The symbolism of West Egg and East Egg

C. The hollowness of material possessions

II. Social Class and the Myth of Social Mobility

A. The contrasting worlds of the nouveau riche and the old money elite

B. The impossibility of transcending social boundaries

C. The facade of upward mobility

III. Love and the Corruption of Relationships

A. The idealization of Daisy Buchanan

B. The destructive power of obsession

C. The inability to find genuine connection

IV. Disillusionment and the Failure of the American Dream

A. The decline of the American Dream as a national ethos

B. The pursuit of happiness as an empty promise

C. The consequences of living in a society driven by illusions

Conclusion: “The Great Gatsby” serves as a cautionary tale that exposes the hollowness of the American Dream during the 1920s. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of characters striving for unattainable dreams, the overwhelming influence of materialism, and the impossibility of escaping one’s social class highlights the inherent flaws in the pursuit of the American Dream. Through the novel’s exploration of wealth, social class, love, and disillusionment, Fitzgerald exposes the damaging effects of an ideology built on illusion and the consequences of a society driven by materialism. By critically analyzing “The Great Gatsby,” readers can gain valuable insights into the pitfalls of the American Dream and the price individuals pay when chasing an unattainable fantasy.