The Great Gatsby And Destruction Of The American Dream

26 Pages 6564 Words

erican Dream and to compare with the main characters view.




2. The myth of the American Dream

The term dream can easily be described - it is a strongly desired goal or purpose which someone could or might follow a whole life long. But what exactely is meant by the American Dream? According to Webster`s Dictionary it is “An American ideal that stresses a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic right and privileges.” (Webster’s Dictionary: 1997, 37). This ideal is closely connected with the American history and culture and has its roots in the period of settlement when many settlers came to the new continent to find religious freedom or to leave their past behind. In America they were able to make a new start and live up their social, economical and religious life, no matter what background they have got (Hüttenberger: Die Menschen und ihre Geschichte, 30). In other words, the American dream stood for the promise of equality, freedom, and unlimited opportunities of the new country. Certainly, everyone had the responsibility for one’s own destiny. Furthermore it says, that those who work hard and follow their dreams faithfully, without putting off by it will reach their longing aims – all wishes and desires can come true. In 1776 Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers wrote down the Declaration of Independence, where it is stated:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. (Wasser: Die USA – Der unbekannte Partner, 38)

This declaration was written during a period of time when most of the United States wasn`t discovered yet. Therefore, it was addressed to a society which had a lot of land and lived from the land. This situation changed during the nineteenth century. By the 1920’s the basic idea o...